tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922247903813745312024-02-07T19:35:43.589+13:00New Zealand Birding Tour 2010Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-56807973647898415252011-12-05T05:42:00.001+13:002011-12-05T05:43:02.757+13:00Stewart Island photo gallery added<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I have added a photo gallery, which contain <a href="http://www.seawatching.net/nz/SI/index.html" target="_blank">72 photos from Stewart Island</a>. Within a week I will add four more galleries from my NZ trip last year. Cheers /Niklas</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFR3fccX559kGnfqknIWDiXvYI0uO9l0D_VX2PWGLFcWTS8arubaij3im-cUORdVpsX8VsJCrwNUdf97EefhsYCQXmvHdwj6E4ViVUjGMv-SPSYcDhlEpPJBEemec1E2HpCJaxSf7VjE8/s1600/SI_Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFR3fccX559kGnfqknIWDiXvYI0uO9l0D_VX2PWGLFcWTS8arubaij3im-cUORdVpsX8VsJCrwNUdf97EefhsYCQXmvHdwj6E4ViVUjGMv-SPSYcDhlEpPJBEemec1E2HpCJaxSf7VjE8/s1600/SI_Robin.jpg" /></a></div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-40738908646360230612011-04-04T02:26:00.001+12:002011-04-04T02:44:39.031+12:00Two new photo galleries added<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two new photo galleries have been added. One dealing with National Park and <a href="http://www.seawatching.net/nz/NationalPark/">Tongariro Crossing</a> on 9-11th November and the other showing a sample of photos from my great four-day walk on <a href="http://www.seawatching.net/nz/Kepler/">Kepler Track</a> 26-29th. Please enjoy.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7is2PzKueaVfwB5I448j7WPtD2FwX9Vusoyk1vtGVL5lNQHxZV2a90dScBTuPTI0WCS4FULpvlanVXaSw3Ae1aH2oOBPFEFpEcydYQuY3C_uVHC7MwYTci2WFgrFdcX1KgApvEZfzX6k/s1600/010_Kea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7is2PzKueaVfwB5I448j7WPtD2FwX9Vusoyk1vtGVL5lNQHxZV2a90dScBTuPTI0WCS4FULpvlanVXaSw3Ae1aH2oOBPFEFpEcydYQuY3C_uVHC7MwYTci2WFgrFdcX1KgApvEZfzX6k/s1600/010_Kea.jpg" /></a></div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-63464268346389340122011-03-16T22:16:00.000+13:002011-03-16T22:16:36.700+13:00A sample of albatross photos added<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first photo gallery out of ten have been launched and dealing with the huge and wonderful albatrosses seen during several pelagic trips. Please visit the </span><a href="http://www.seawatching.net/nz/albatrosses/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">albatross gallery.</a></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZs2_0EgOxgrOFryaL67P0vlkKWl6xJdcwHaWvG2AA0e83zmO3ZTML7cOGwWkQ-mFsExGeOQU7tf3hqSZ2ytiOT99dUeaV-U3bWrvxGF4b6ISTLaKHOQSvz4nrfaYPeO2daXYuPpP_90/s1600/Wandering_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZs2_0EgOxgrOFryaL67P0vlkKWl6xJdcwHaWvG2AA0e83zmO3ZTML7cOGwWkQ-mFsExGeOQU7tf3hqSZ2ytiOT99dUeaV-U3bWrvxGF4b6ISTLaKHOQSvz4nrfaYPeO2daXYuPpP_90/s1600/Wandering_blog.jpg" /></a></div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-25345168906578469972011-01-23T08:56:00.001+13:002011-03-16T22:11:01.760+13:00Trip report and photo galleries soon available<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtVb7MPDxQbbNeJTwAw4TPG8IjlkbZbSWC5ey9Cbe6HEjdBBFK0qHruDD0X2t6vxZfGpJKOak3f5wwUmLPQ_nb4JBdMK9gvVA2QdgI_yd6BvZP9YRHY3AEW7jGXnmu9b5tHlt4HIhXrY/s1600/Nicke_Kaikoura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtVb7MPDxQbbNeJTwAw4TPG8IjlkbZbSWC5ey9Cbe6HEjdBBFK0qHruDD0X2t6vxZfGpJKOak3f5wwUmLPQ_nb4JBdMK9gvVA2QdgI_yd6BvZP9YRHY3AEW7jGXnmu9b5tHlt4HIhXrY/s1600/Nicke_Kaikoura.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me photographing Giant Petrels during the pelagic with Albatross Encouters off Kaikoura in early morning on 20 November 2010. Photo: Leif-Åke Josefsson, Aftonbladet.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The trip report on my five week trip to NZ is soon finished, which is true for the photo galleries as well. Hopefully, everything will be available on this site during March. Stay tuned!</span></span>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-12892716466482868572010-12-20T06:10:00.003+13:002011-01-23T08:45:10.509+13:00From summer to winter - 19th December<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">A week has passed since I arrived to Sweden from five fantastic weeks in NZ. Sweden is covered by snow and the temperature has swinged between -10 and -20 degree. Quite a contrast to the summer in NZ. Well the snow has been falling steadily here now for the past couple of days. I'll see if it's possible to take the bicycle to work tomorrow morning. I wish you all a Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year!</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GnVdIzn8fhOf2mtjkJjAUm6USvuG-USNG4bycfHX-A8jRQHwK7tmCEUBRTom4Mx-fRwlM5pXf5sdcIkzI7_MCpPFPB0-D3P5Qnx1MbcfpLxTef4vsAWdGa1UdR7o6Sqzh1jtF3Grs8A/s1600/101219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GnVdIzn8fhOf2mtjkJjAUm6USvuG-USNG4bycfHX-A8jRQHwK7tmCEUBRTom4Mx-fRwlM5pXf5sdcIkzI7_MCpPFPB0-D3P5Qnx1MbcfpLxTef4vsAWdGa1UdR7o6Sqzh1jtF3Grs8A/s1600/101219.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Torshällaån (the small river of Torshälla) on Sunday 19th December. A few hundred metres from where I live.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2nyq5Yfb7fYA_ZhmtN9mu-opVvfVn2P5XwVVjOHvRb0uKdZb6KA8o67KcJO_Iv8e1OBa2YECLqhzKt20kAzVssTouuLXWwAQrP0rkJ8T-nw5bCvXbDlcUMznqhz4OhzVsndyDJeM6Fs/s1600/101219b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2nyq5Yfb7fYA_ZhmtN9mu-opVvfVn2P5XwVVjOHvRb0uKdZb6KA8o67KcJO_Iv8e1OBa2YECLqhzKt20kAzVssTouuLXWwAQrP0rkJ8T-nw5bCvXbDlcUMznqhz4OhzVsndyDJeM6Fs/s1600/101219b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful male Goosanders in the stream.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndbqmANYz40dFYkFru01z2Zd0AY6FKJauCeu1hSPhdyJP6g9h34Xbma-eG9iQ0_6LkOofllZ7HM3A3-BmVr9hUoFn_vjl2o821IQe1VZRaqN_UteVzR-0d6jxRN9HsnyroYKWHdkLM0E/s1600/101209_camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndbqmANYz40dFYkFru01z2Zd0AY6FKJauCeu1hSPhdyJP6g9h34Xbma-eG9iQ0_6LkOofllZ7HM3A3-BmVr9hUoFn_vjl2o821IQe1VZRaqN_UteVzR-0d6jxRN9HsnyroYKWHdkLM0E/s1600/101209_camera.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All photos on this travel blog is taken with my handy Olympus SP-590UZ (26x optical wide zoom).</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-49692346012257252422010-12-11T11:54:00.001+13:002010-12-13T10:05:51.375+13:00Magic days and nights on Tiritiri Matangi – 8-10th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back in Auckland after three fabulous days birding and exploring the island of Tiritiri Matangi, an open sanctuary located in Hauraki Gulf. I took the ferry on Wednesday morning and arrived to Tiritiri one and half hour later. Clearblue sky and scattered clouds further in to mainland. Throughout the weather was sunny and hot (20-23 degree). The DoC Rangers welcomed all the day visitors and those staying overnight and held a brief lecture about Tiritiri, what to do and not do and so on. I got my bed in the bunkhouse, occupied by volunteers and a small group of exchange students for the night. I packed up my things quickly and was soon ready to explore the island and its birdlife. Each day throughout my stay I walked almost every track, but in different directions and time of day. As the forest is quite young it’s not as high as native forest’s, therefore rather easy to birding and detect birds. However, it’s birds everywhere, easy to find and see, but sometimes much more difficult to photograph that one may think. Of course, some species are more difficult than others to see, which is true for Kokako, Fernbird and the nocturnal ones. All tracks are good, but take your time. Also, the vary of habitat, old and young forest, the closeness to the sea, which means your walk never get boring. Add to this several good spots for seawatching in (most preferably) the evening along the eastern coastline. Wow, it’s hard to describe or even write up a story for these days. I meet a lady from Auckland, who stayed over for one night. On the return ferry she said to me: “I feel ashamed to say that during my 15 years in Auckland I had never been on Tiritiri, but what a jewel. And I saw my first Kiwis in wild ever last night! I have already decide to take along my grandsons next month to Tiritiri.”</span> <br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The birdlife were incredible rich and the numbers of many species were very high. Tui probably being the most numerous (several hundreds a day), followed by Whitehead and Saddleback. I was very happy to see ten Saddlebacks on Ulva in one day, however, on Tiritiri you could see ten in one small valley. And to experience the morning concert of all singing birds is nothing but unforgettable. If I had to pick out a favourite it has to be Tui, which have two voiceboxes and this is what enables Tui to perform such a myriad of vocalisations. And to hear a small group of Tuis singing in chorus in early morning or especially in the evening were like listening to the voice of God!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The nocturnal walks not to be forgotten! On the first day’s evening I placed myself at the lowest part of the Wattle track. Listening to a nice chorus of three Kokakos while waiting for the dusk and hopefully calling Little Spotted Kiwis. At 9:15, almost dark, a male Kiwi was calling in the valley and later a female answer. Then it was silent for half an hour so I decide to continue to walk the track slowly. After a while I reached the gravel road and came across one of the students from the bunkhouse. We walked together slowly and within ten minutes we saw two different kiwis! Both crossing the road and one remained for about ten seconds in the middle of the road about three metres in front of us! On the second evening, after more the three hours of seawatching, I placed myself on a the meadow slope above the pond between the Fishermans Bay and Emergency landing location. Had a cup of coffee and enjoyed the dusk coming. Two Spotless Crakes start to call and suddenly a Morepork flew by two metres from me with the greyblue sky as a perfect backdrop. It start to calling from an adjacent clump of trees. Already at 8:45pm I heard the first Kiwi calling and soon a female called back! I stayed at the lovely spot for 45 minutes more, hearing 3-4 more kiwis. Very happy I longed for the bed and start walking back to the bunkhouse. At the lookout point close to the lighthouse I nearly suffered a heart attack as a Kiwi start calling just a few metres off the track. I stood still, with my red headlight on. I could hear the Kiwi moving towards me and suddenly it just were there, on the grassy track in front of me! Heart attack was the word! After a few seconds, which felt like hours, it disappeared in the dark forest. I felt like the luckiest guy in the world. Seeing Little Spotted Kiwis two evenings in a row and bearing the sightings on Stewart Island in mind. I just wonder if my Koru medallion, which I bought when I arrive to New Zealand, has a great part in my fantastic travel, from the beginning to this grande finale. Most probably!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sightings worthy of mention (average numbers per day in brackets): Brown Teal (3), Little Spotted Kiwi (4-5 heard + 3 seen), Spottless Crake (2 heard + 1 seen), NZ Pigeon (many), Kaka (5), Red-crowned Parakeet (20 pairs), Morepork (1 seen and heard), NZ Kingfisher (2-3), Grey Warbler (2-3), Fernbird (seen on five locations), Whitehead (common), Fantail (5), North Island Robin (20), Kokako (1 seen + 3-4 heard), Tui (common), Stitchbird (20), Bellbird (common), North Island Saddleback (common).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dedicated seawatching on a the tip at Fishermans Bay in lovely light condition between 5-8pm produced lot of seabirds flying westwards: Common Diving Petrel (1), Buller’s Shearwater (367), Flesh-footed Shearwater (322), Fluttering Shearwater (490), Sooty Shearwater (3), Cook’s Petrel (2), Australasian Gannet (c. 400), Arctic Skua (7) and Dusky Dolphin (30). After 8pm I stopped counting and just enjoyed the loose endless stream of Buller’s and Flesh-footed passing westwards.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Besides an unforgettable overall impression I was given seven lifers during these three days. Please enjoy a photo cavalcade from Tiritiri Matangi. About two hours I’ll catch the bus to Auckland airport. Sweden here I come!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkemc2pUaRqkZQdqGHbRT-AWanXpLpGJszV4mwz-Eyfh1uS82IYZkLWMiIUPHIg5aOcIENbP7SDkkIWP5iP5FeB4sHfVSC5B_IKeW446w8qJlF7iDJu6Lww2ciyONqNDGyt5arDsx5lOc/s1600/101209_Auckland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkemc2pUaRqkZQdqGHbRT-AWanXpLpGJszV4mwz-Eyfh1uS82IYZkLWMiIUPHIg5aOcIENbP7SDkkIWP5iP5FeB4sHfVSC5B_IKeW446w8qJlF7iDJu6Lww2ciyONqNDGyt5arDsx5lOc/s1600/101209_Auckland.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leaving Auckland behind.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkdHZvB8rdXO-JzNiZlegdOV2a3zV45Li_P1KzysdXHZiMmjI-YgrZKyuDjZKBI-qD1hRwD6RYFSFvrLhxcXKvLJxGc14z2gPPBmH6m9pZgdnNp5j6l6rC5yQ-O_YXCKDgPpmtRvZLsk/s1600/101209_Tiritiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkdHZvB8rdXO-JzNiZlegdOV2a3zV45Li_P1KzysdXHZiMmjI-YgrZKyuDjZKBI-qD1hRwD6RYFSFvrLhxcXKvLJxGc14z2gPPBmH6m9pZgdnNp5j6l6rC5yQ-O_YXCKDgPpmtRvZLsk/s1600/101209_Tiritiri.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Approaching Tiritiri Matangi.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGX5pMaht5EYXggxRx8DtA1PZTBvegRQ0u2UacSda2w0kFhn83VXkr7mr0wtGuGHxdRt60RfbHz62POxt9lECzFNMEaK5SCC_itkwtciMwDxzSy1RSm7fJcLZ9z6oxkWFPaJPWqheoXQ8/s1600/101209_bunkhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGX5pMaht5EYXggxRx8DtA1PZTBvegRQ0u2UacSda2w0kFhn83VXkr7mr0wtGuGHxdRt60RfbHz62POxt9lECzFNMEaK5SCC_itkwtciMwDxzSy1RSm7fJcLZ9z6oxkWFPaJPWqheoXQ8/s1600/101209_bunkhouse.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The bunkhouse were I stayed. Rangitoto Island in far background.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from the eastern part towards northwest (mainland).</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD70Avr_YaxR5tgQNt8yuclVLHj3FYXRftp7IcgyUc2JBuK6gxcdR4wnWRsU9T4L6pKuncU6HlcSuBI2hFubsqIvNxp56vbMoScjy3KpgabJB1hVXBjDfAC1nUM9t-b6ooukkJamVfTJQ/s1600/101209_vy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD70Avr_YaxR5tgQNt8yuclVLHj3FYXRftp7IcgyUc2JBuK6gxcdR4wnWRsU9T4L6pKuncU6HlcSuBI2hFubsqIvNxp56vbMoScjy3KpgabJB1hVXBjDfAC1nUM9t-b6ooukkJamVfTJQ/s1600/101209_vy4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from the eastern part towards northwest (mainland).</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3kUQ4KjTREU4tM7efzyHp5j0idhCItpZdsPZuXNV7XfXogxIMMdB4eZH3fwBuOvvWlAbuWr7JY8vKxXAXMq4vYbu8aTjdgVSB3bMtKVEuNdWHCyFBym9-FyEhEfmYlqHfGxBj8PQ4Ro/s1600/101209_vy5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3kUQ4KjTREU4tM7efzyHp5j0idhCItpZdsPZuXNV7XfXogxIMMdB4eZH3fwBuOvvWlAbuWr7JY8vKxXAXMq4vYbu8aTjdgVSB3bMtKVEuNdWHCyFBym9-FyEhEfmYlqHfGxBj8PQ4Ro/s1600/101209_vy5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beautiful Pohutukawa tree with its red flowers. (North Islands Christmas tree).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvLIGgjsysDcgKu2QtncYSL-amfZlH0nmjLZtfhNWlIpT80Q3f_HU5_cwGL3sj2NdDwqAlaz3pbYen9uywYzKIX3Cjlv1b5gpVmHjabxRUYJzMHcPP1q8YWj3nX8wfdNJxbbsSrbrkrI/s1600/101209_vy7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvLIGgjsysDcgKu2QtncYSL-amfZlH0nmjLZtfhNWlIpT80Q3f_HU5_cwGL3sj2NdDwqAlaz3pbYen9uywYzKIX3Cjlv1b5gpVmHjabxRUYJzMHcPP1q8YWj3nX8wfdNJxbbsSrbrkrI/s1600/101209_vy7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wooded Island off Northeast Bay (where I had a nice swim).</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaseh52vz6B8XspK72cfpbdx5KHcEGAoL8Klsj3RCzJKnvkeyVvz08dBEMMawdbS3qh3guDKj-n_eO4Yhs6qtlc38emN4gxBmLnCABJPlAnTJQBqd6EroAR14Yuus0wCi3CP57dDMehhA/s1600/101209_Pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaseh52vz6B8XspK72cfpbdx5KHcEGAoL8Klsj3RCzJKnvkeyVvz08dBEMMawdbS3qh3guDKj-n_eO4Yhs6qtlc38emN4gxBmLnCABJPlAnTJQBqd6EroAR14Yuus0wCi3CP57dDMehhA/s1600/101209_Pigeon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">NZ Pigeon.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvj7W-DvWlwT9VtzqZoXM0zDB73vp1vYQPEVBKi6HWOMC-3S3qQLR8v-Q8dEFmYrIg02zBoWZ3W_0sWnmx8vqI20iexqnEGKWaRDszG0FENtFhtjrlyEHpLeUA7cL2mWIuxkDy9HTKS8/s1600/101209_Red-crowned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvj7W-DvWlwT9VtzqZoXM0zDB73vp1vYQPEVBKi6HWOMC-3S3qQLR8v-Q8dEFmYrIg02zBoWZ3W_0sWnmx8vqI20iexqnEGKWaRDszG0FENtFhtjrlyEHpLeUA7cL2mWIuxkDy9HTKS8/s1600/101209_Red-crowned.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Red-crowned Parakeet.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVChudIq61-9krQQSOvIYhXrO2-E_tXhn6TIS3TTeVcOFGOOLwD6c9GnI1ThyXJfuWoizeZbNFsVu8SeGMg7fzKU1gu3HT1e8dtJgx1_NQfeXkJxq69SnFBX92d7ypH0_t4WVHfIs2m34/s1600/101209_Tui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVChudIq61-9krQQSOvIYhXrO2-E_tXhn6TIS3TTeVcOFGOOLwD6c9GnI1ThyXJfuWoizeZbNFsVu8SeGMg7fzKU1gu3HT1e8dtJgx1_NQfeXkJxq69SnFBX92d7ypH0_t4WVHfIs2m34/s1600/101209_Tui.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">A lovely Tui.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNuHjPElT2Jd1IwIWYhoJjack0DqY6ch9tf2gEP8Hw7FIsHhARB9OxZ7gcNR1G4TOx4vYhv4GqOd-i5ioQVFaAeehj52ngcv-LBQ1uB3-9o53BkYS3r4Fz0TX3Ur-hPJELX21KFuua-s/s1600/101209_Stitchbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNuHjPElT2Jd1IwIWYhoJjack0DqY6ch9tf2gEP8Hw7FIsHhARB9OxZ7gcNR1G4TOx4vYhv4GqOd-i5ioQVFaAeehj52ngcv-LBQ1uB3-9o53BkYS3r4Fz0TX3Ur-hPJELX21KFuua-s/s1600/101209_Stitchbird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">A male Stitchbird.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFGBS28QopZHkPcYXJUZ8VkqtRjlHT4LD-Y8LWbRe0QWXlyPyBB-hkTA0WAOIIPYCzRS4bf4acUUJMDtJMlCETV_UrpRAS94n3DLfrC1eVH_DlbpXsfd3jMhR2WRq23BK8Q5unTFbZGM/s1600/101209_Saddleback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFGBS28QopZHkPcYXJUZ8VkqtRjlHT4LD-Y8LWbRe0QWXlyPyBB-hkTA0WAOIIPYCzRS4bf4acUUJMDtJMlCETV_UrpRAS94n3DLfrC1eVH_DlbpXsfd3jMhR2WRq23BK8Q5unTFbZGM/s1600/101209_Saddleback.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">North Island Saddleback searching for nectar.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkKrLrqwI6fM-1YAZAr1HRXFsqERDom_dfo_4iLKYhVJnYIoCXukCQrPxeUZNNULbeXxW_ojlA0jerR2Jf08Gn8mNn0Q9sXK2xM0fYlrHN47Ec9uzGpr8GnB1nA29aFyymoj0R-RqYyI/s1600/101209_Saddleback2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkKrLrqwI6fM-1YAZAr1HRXFsqERDom_dfo_4iLKYhVJnYIoCXukCQrPxeUZNNULbeXxW_ojlA0jerR2Jf08Gn8mNn0Q9sXK2xM0fYlrHN47Ec9uzGpr8GnB1nA29aFyymoj0R-RqYyI/s1600/101209_Saddleback2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sun bathing Saddlebacks at the bridge at Northeast Bay.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7G2cyZ7e4UZP8FuvMr4hSvk-nqroMUt_COOXtpzAJtGiBxGiNXIsGIvmS_HZoti_ElOBHvENKXcrhwQ7YoccQvlfd9JknI-kDRdUlu7fkjWsCDW4bt6qF5Dx8aAE0NFmIok-RON84_k/s1600/101209_Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7G2cyZ7e4UZP8FuvMr4hSvk-nqroMUt_COOXtpzAJtGiBxGiNXIsGIvmS_HZoti_ElOBHvENKXcrhwQ7YoccQvlfd9JknI-kDRdUlu7fkjWsCDW4bt6qF5Dx8aAE0NFmIok-RON84_k/s1600/101209_Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">North Island Robin.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeZg38DPqvGV5nuE2R369RXgR2GhJ0-LD0wQ4B0P7nkthP0wFrtMLHz4byhEK7B8OZ5zwE8zuJwT-fRR0SY1QFK2lM1luHNqy189f3G7Y2kMCsIswKiH67BiJOj0nXFHbrZEaF6EKP4E/s1600/101209_Bellbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeZg38DPqvGV5nuE2R369RXgR2GhJ0-LD0wQ4B0P7nkthP0wFrtMLHz4byhEK7B8OZ5zwE8zuJwT-fRR0SY1QFK2lM1luHNqy189f3G7Y2kMCsIswKiH67BiJOj0nXFHbrZEaF6EKP4E/s1600/101209_Bellbird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Juvenile Bellbird.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilZR2UTa7MWoC-KE2ES-n-MqVvwaWKIDo_dngPJHht16h7VGOBF9OoNLiCLbFFNYWhT6FrAwARbXmrnrLvvbOB0FQPDdbQ6Yk5DWda6yXRCcpkh0xRW9zO8EVNQ6pvS6EPHMaPj5Dkbs/s1600/101209_Brown_Teal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilZR2UTa7MWoC-KE2ES-n-MqVvwaWKIDo_dngPJHht16h7VGOBF9OoNLiCLbFFNYWhT6FrAwARbXmrnrLvvbOB0FQPDdbQ6Yk5DWda6yXRCcpkh0xRW9zO8EVNQ6pvS6EPHMaPj5Dkbs/s1600/101209_Brown_Teal.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The rare Brown Teal (one of three seen).</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-02a0Z7msmqDHYkr1EH1syCR8rMTg9dpRA-wO5nAFkEURkX20K8tRIVqYDIQAv9evG3Uacp14-OuUD-2-AHpQl_d51ISpkiYe-X-cEXjLhyphenhyphen9Ay4aOphIEBxhIUyrjK0Lv0-CBb_Ajys8/s1600/101209_Fernbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-02a0Z7msmqDHYkr1EH1syCR8rMTg9dpRA-wO5nAFkEURkX20K8tRIVqYDIQAv9evG3Uacp14-OuUD-2-AHpQl_d51ISpkiYe-X-cEXjLhyphenhyphen9Ay4aOphIEBxhIUyrjK0Lv0-CBb_Ajys8/s1600/101209_Fernbird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fernbird, which are quite difficult to see properly.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8Xk1wapLN57Fo_gRP2OTdlFbo0eDDWWpf6L-KqL7feOnZsa3Bn5I8EXb5QagRCofbhRpo9vLT_-GDyX78ghHDqeT5XGxl5r7Pll-7OkNNMbt_Jtn3uZOr_qyMKRFxXA1DpA7BkibqPI/s1600/101209_Takahe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8Xk1wapLN57Fo_gRP2OTdlFbo0eDDWWpf6L-KqL7feOnZsa3Bn5I8EXb5QagRCofbhRpo9vLT_-GDyX78ghHDqeT5XGxl5r7Pll-7OkNNMbt_Jtn3uZOr_qyMKRFxXA1DpA7BkibqPI/s1600/101209_Takahe2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Takahe (like a gigantic Purple Swamphen). This is not famous Greg.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV9r05vpGIvjmwpoivyJe5Ta5KnATKNgPu4tKDxWE8H7nj5GnZFfIaiWz2143nzgjjEwx0Bdw2onvj_HY_F3Ox_jaivoQPHBy5SfQwt0j2i3SSF_-pN9T_mteNtwTLXMYX50oDiRETZg/s1600/101209_Whitehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV9r05vpGIvjmwpoivyJe5Ta5KnATKNgPu4tKDxWE8H7nj5GnZFfIaiWz2143nzgjjEwx0Bdw2onvj_HY_F3Ox_jaivoQPHBy5SfQwt0j2i3SSF_-pN9T_mteNtwTLXMYX50oDiRETZg/s1600/101209_Whitehead.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">A energic Whitehead. Nearly impossible to get on photo.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8tFZMlpZpLoAEN0YTg00swhr_WmDxZZMfaMZ_lQuqRqMVnKZc7ldc0qG69Y37Bduq91Oko9zjaQRIYy1MsegY24CjA_XfNrqQs4JV8w_sAijDzBFEy-znkI89IqlwxUMdAfj2pNq63Q/s1600/101209_tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8tFZMlpZpLoAEN0YTg00swhr_WmDxZZMfaMZ_lQuqRqMVnKZc7ldc0qG69Y37Bduq91Oko9zjaQRIYy1MsegY24CjA_XfNrqQs4JV8w_sAijDzBFEy-znkI89IqlwxUMdAfj2pNq63Q/s1600/101209_tub.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seawatching at Fishermans Bay was very productive and enjoyable.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHHaknAi9L7Na-CQ45pwsm19ARB-ypulVZIlfYLgSMoK8SoGgKbpl7a-2CnwW96vN5_zeu5RV4PN0Cr6h40Omp54-QMvFGwesMosvDx-gJEpXfdkZYWoACvLorh86PJU5NJh1K2TNpYQ/s1600/101209_gannet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHHaknAi9L7Na-CQ45pwsm19ARB-ypulVZIlfYLgSMoK8SoGgKbpl7a-2CnwW96vN5_zeu5RV4PN0Cr6h40Omp54-QMvFGwesMosvDx-gJEpXfdkZYWoACvLorh86PJU5NJh1K2TNpYQ/s1600/101209_gannet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">An Australasian Gannet flew overhead.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl27IOXj_5qvJeboULMIq-kzW762cbZ4e9-etxb2kZnHI9z949OVxSugTD9DyqkoBR5nmqxVNMP_7BI-lcqbpnu6ZHziJAuEhqka0FFJOG15hADd523WJLiHZUbIdP7hS6vAAgcUdQKwA/s1600/101209_vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl27IOXj_5qvJeboULMIq-kzW762cbZ4e9-etxb2kZnHI9z949OVxSugTD9DyqkoBR5nmqxVNMP_7BI-lcqbpnu6ZHziJAuEhqka0FFJOG15hADd523WJLiHZUbIdP7hS6vAAgcUdQKwA/s1600/101209_vy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The pond at the eastern part where three Brown Teals and Spottless Crakes were present.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NBxyp3XuVVNKOdiBtTQLLhq069dOtqIAoYSL7wPV_CECKDsBN_lKvDhzpkk0VTEQ19w-xL4_pIuzro6n7GG5LU8r_9JcRI1R57P3rTHAzNYXni8IQ7-EQlqoVpx6iArExd_saOeAbg0/s1600/101209_vy_kvall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NBxyp3XuVVNKOdiBtTQLLhq069dOtqIAoYSL7wPV_CECKDsBN_lKvDhzpkk0VTEQ19w-xL4_pIuzro6n7GG5LU8r_9JcRI1R57P3rTHAzNYXni8IQ7-EQlqoVpx6iArExd_saOeAbg0/s1600/101209_vy_kvall.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Evening view at Fishermans Bay towards east.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The lighthouse in evening light.</span></div></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-47824204676909239882010-12-08T07:34:00.000+13:002010-12-08T07:34:32.072+13:00Tiritiri Matangi for three days - 8thSo, I just had have a nice breakfast at Xbase and will will soon walk downtown to the ferry, which will take me to the island of <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/auckland/warkworth-area/tiritiri-matangi-scientific-reserve-open-sanctuary/">Tiritiri Matangi</a> for a three-day stay. The target speies is Little Spotted Kiwi, Stitchbird and Kokako and of course it will be nice to see the already seen specialties as well as the subspecies of Robin and Saddleback. Fortunately, it's no public Internet connection on the island and therefore it will not be any updates until Friday evening or so, but stay tuned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0Evot8yQd_9cSGrDJZrrsQsrZtGVg2Ul9gnTaEF7EEA6l9CJJ0Je93Abs317wNvHbywdf0HsEElNtvbrvSnqDobc1oOV3TJieHEIiGjc0c6CMNupVZhEF47EPSv05A3z-1z7f-03XfY/s1600/101208_tiri.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0Evot8yQd_9cSGrDJZrrsQsrZtGVg2Ul9gnTaEF7EEA6l9CJJ0Je93Abs317wNvHbywdf0HsEElNtvbrvSnqDobc1oOV3TJieHEIiGjc0c6CMNupVZhEF47EPSv05A3z-1z7f-03XfY/s1600/101208_tiri.gif" /></a></div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-5646756676566453962010-12-07T22:11:00.001+13:002010-12-07T22:11:43.897+13:00From Invercargill to Auckland – 7th<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My journey soon come full circle. Strange feeling. At noon I flew from Invercargill in the very south of the South Island to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Auckland</city></place> in the north, covering a distance of about 1200 km. However, at the moment I am sitting at the side of the window in the Xbase community room in centre <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Auckland</place></city>. Writing on the travel blog on my notebook, a latte from Starbucks across the street, Cure in my headphones and I can see people walking along Queens street, wearing summer clothes. Strange. Knowing that Santa Claus literally is round the corner. Today, it’s on day one month since I arrived and spent my first night at Xbase. Seems to be so long ago. I really can’t bow to the inevitable fact that I’ll start my travel back to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Sweden</place></country-region> on Saturday. No, tomorrow morning I’ll the 360 Discovery ferry to the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">island</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">Tiritiri Matangi</placename></place> and stay there until Friday afternoon. It’s an open sanctuary, but you have to book accommodation well ahead, as the bunkhouse only contains 10 beds. I booked already in March to secure a place. It will be interesting to compare Tiritiri with Ulva island, but on the other hand I am not sure one should, as they had have (and still have) complete different opportunities for their conservation work. As I said one month ago, Xbase is a great place to stay at: the Airport bus stops just outside the door, the ferry to Tiritiri Matangi as well as cetacean/seabird boat tours is located 15 minutes walk away and the Railway station ten minutes. So folks, it’s time to get to bed. My adventures is not finished yet;-)</span></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI7WOmrBLjAoIa4f5JjE8dbuZOzYZKp0EQ__26mYJpXczXL-jO1hPp3G5Ncv2sthYd0iT_XZRMmg9GGvCHIn66ODcQciLMBG-AkZJMtQKrvGFVrIsVCg7j9OKrsf2foONfYH3hFXgfoo/s1600/101207_claus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI7WOmrBLjAoIa4f5JjE8dbuZOzYZKp0EQ__26mYJpXczXL-jO1hPp3G5Ncv2sthYd0iT_XZRMmg9GGvCHIn66ODcQciLMBG-AkZJMtQKrvGFVrIsVCg7j9OKrsf2foONfYH3hFXgfoo/s1600/101207_claus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Santa Claus in summer time. Can't believe it's Xmas soon, not here at Xbase.</span></div></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-38122920351890406242010-12-06T22:18:00.000+13:002010-12-06T22:18:18.368+13:00Ulva Island a second time – 6th<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last day on Stewart Island. Quite a sad feeling. I had a last wholesome breakfast at Jo and Andy in company with Colin. Then I enjoyed the Fuchsia walk, continued to Golden Bay and took Peter’s water taxi to Ulva island for a three hours visit. It had rained all night and it was only me and two German guys visiting Ulva in the morning. Wonderful! There was lots of Stewart Island Robins throughout all tracks and at West End Beach I found a pair with a newly fledge bird. I saw three South Island Saddlebacks and heard four singing birds. Two Riflemen, four Yellowheads and at least 20 Brown Creepers is worthy of mention among the usual bird species. Back on the main island I meet Leo, a Dutch birdwatcher, that made a day visit. I packed my things and took farewell to Andy and Jo. Walked a few hundred metres to South Sea Hotel (the southernmost hotel in the world?) and enjoyed a last latte. The ferry left Oban at 3:30pm. Leo and I did some seawatching from after-deck. We saw a few Stewart Island Shags, several White-capped Albatrosses, Sooty Shearwaters and Common Diving Petrels. At Tuatara Lodge I had full-head-shave, a shower and washed my muddy trousers and boats. After these refreshments I headed to A la Turk for a lamb kebab. Delicious! I spent rest of the evening reading and listening to the Cure. Tomorrow I’ll fly to Auckland via Christchurch. I begin to realize that my long journey has an end, but I try to avoid thinking of it. I look forward to three days stay on Tiritiri Matangi!</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1hEcfIp1hlpt8_LULqlR-OIKnYrUKxg1wzJAlsAd6eXD3uLwfg8YmzdLd77KyclkmeBhHxbF22gcJEYEhba6ympGCWBJhtaTmfcIHaXptfxualQID9zD9Q5E6_n1R1W6nbs2gpDIV7s/s1600/101206_vy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1hEcfIp1hlpt8_LULqlR-OIKnYrUKxg1wzJAlsAd6eXD3uLwfg8YmzdLd77KyclkmeBhHxbF22gcJEYEhba6ympGCWBJhtaTmfcIHaXptfxualQID9zD9Q5E6_n1R1W6nbs2gpDIV7s/s1600/101206_vy1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from Sydney Cove on Ulva Island.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC1sAJzvF2TA04AJVBmhS_mlSNRb9H4Op_4YGvXkrqNEcXY7iPmutQzQOuRa1lQFgDwnGy61ER_MXT2YsWysBAgFI4otNzKFmE7lrRU0xoC88eikCc77yKZbuXetlPaLgKXJWhl33ehs/s1600/101206_Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC1sAJzvF2TA04AJVBmhS_mlSNRb9H4Op_4YGvXkrqNEcXY7iPmutQzQOuRa1lQFgDwnGy61ER_MXT2YsWysBAgFI4otNzKFmE7lrRU0xoC88eikCc77yKZbuXetlPaLgKXJWhl33ehs/s1600/101206_Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Newly fledged Stewart Island Robin at West End Beach.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbMopgAgZ8GhKOj3ZEHPxl5VVrBerKa86ZA5xvTvDnjxTimn8zkHoiGpoSzvVx77G5XA_aFTeqbjFM-qPtKfrvtltsJZ9vLgWgoGllyBeSCfconyf45jGkLkHZjG1UZGJu0-pLkuhGKg/s1600/101206_Kaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbMopgAgZ8GhKOj3ZEHPxl5VVrBerKa86ZA5xvTvDnjxTimn8zkHoiGpoSzvVx77G5XA_aFTeqbjFM-qPtKfrvtltsJZ9vLgWgoGllyBeSCfconyf45jGkLkHZjG1UZGJu0-pLkuhGKg/s1600/101206_Kaka.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A curious Kaka.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid04tYXKVNAnAd_WSLIvm3zXFRQKxDCf6W5bCWelpOe3QKbEYdkAT3IhugHbuE1V30aV4uhGyoNXpmkbDGhZlNPTI7LmLGjOyn-6LT11Bluq1urk96X4iP87PIRJgPgS6-VRif_aRyQgk/s1600/101206_Kelp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid04tYXKVNAnAd_WSLIvm3zXFRQKxDCf6W5bCWelpOe3QKbEYdkAT3IhugHbuE1V30aV4uhGyoNXpmkbDGhZlNPTI7LmLGjOyn-6LT11Bluq1urk96X4iP87PIRJgPgS6-VRif_aRyQgk/s1600/101206_Kelp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Black-backed (Kelp) Gull at Ulva Island.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y7tXsTRIrh9SujWC1_XFfPKqvz9b-Ee9_hZNZheIyvcnQw6gsvmdeF1gQoC7K0wH3CtMmK1RkHrWv_NIOzKtm27JxJkfuIBQ5MBPSw4cwQuScilALK0wq09HZbLgrrxvJUFwGHGImnQ/s1600/101206_vy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y7tXsTRIrh9SujWC1_XFfPKqvz9b-Ee9_hZNZheIyvcnQw6gsvmdeF1gQoC7K0wH3CtMmK1RkHrWv_NIOzKtm27JxJkfuIBQ5MBPSw4cwQuScilALK0wq09HZbLgrrxvJUFwGHGImnQ/s1600/101206_vy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from the ferry towards the northeastern part of Stewart Island.</span></div></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-7428350305172489132010-12-06T14:04:00.002+13:002010-12-06T22:33:21.554+13:00Rakiura Track on Stewart Island – 5th<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">For this day I had planned to walk a part of the Rakiura track, which is consider to be one of the great walks in NZ. The whole track is about 36 km and one’s suggested to do one or two overnights in the huts along the track. However, I thought that it may be possible to do the track in one day, but I think it would be wise to start with the first third to Maori beach, then make a final decision. I packed my rucksack with food and rain clothes only and left the house at 9am. Cloudy and a westerly breeze. I excluded the Horseshoe Point track and headed directly towards Lee Bay. On the beach at Lee Bay a huge Sea Lion had parked himself. I reached Maori Beach quarter to 12. Had a small lunch and finally decided to do the whole Rakiura track. By the way, Rakiura is the Maori name for Stewart Island and means “Land of the Glowing Skies. While this is a reference to the blushes of Te Rakitamau it also describes the island’s spectacular sunsets and its night-time displays of Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">The track between Port William and North Arm Hut were just wonderful. Through native old forest all way, valleys with small streams, suspension bridges, a few lookout points, even though one never reached below the bushline. I reached North Arm at 3:40pm and had a 20 minutes rest in the hut with coffee and food. Unfortunately, it started to drizzle when I hit the track. The track between North Arm and Sawdust Bay were just a muddy disaster as some clever one had pulled away the wooden walkway, instead of doing it step by step when replacing it with a gravel walkway. I arrived to Jo and Andy’s house at 7pm, with quite muddy and wet trekking boats, but happy to had have completed the whole track, though there was no other option then to proceed. The regular bird species were seen in good numbers during the walk. I got to bed early and fell in sleep at once.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQA63xQhSQFoVckj1La5y8hB2G7kUOlnR511uzoCxjkwvhUQh0I0d1rwaJ3CayOeTH7oqNnHw471WhXlFD9g1RL6lT21QR7mkHXf3XgOneLFpM5UqwtbZGiHXpSoGCmA_zjpkIEtGt50/s1600/101205_Horseshoe_track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQA63xQhSQFoVckj1La5y8hB2G7kUOlnR511uzoCxjkwvhUQh0I0d1rwaJ3CayOeTH7oqNnHw471WhXlFD9g1RL6lT21QR7mkHXf3XgOneLFpM5UqwtbZGiHXpSoGCmA_zjpkIEtGt50/s1600/101205_Horseshoe_track.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dead Man Beach in early morning.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ACI_sbTe6YWWJ90gBgWLXWOIOrx-FF71F1SaSzO5H8JV1NxLEK8jCsSBavic5brckriHLRTA0If2DRtUsV3oaiWWDvr-UnUzVUL1Cx3mVTsGpczrV22aPvZiMCFXlpCNRUtCdRkhec/s1600/101205_Sealion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ACI_sbTe6YWWJ90gBgWLXWOIOrx-FF71F1SaSzO5H8JV1NxLEK8jCsSBavic5brckriHLRTA0If2DRtUsV3oaiWWDvr-UnUzVUL1Cx3mVTsGpczrV22aPvZiMCFXlpCNRUtCdRkhec/s1600/101205_Sealion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The huge Sea lion at Lee Bay.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSN9QVsl7yPepINlAi5Yfz8WLuHyqNEAFgyoj8DlEYjExH2V_38tLf1EFsOgWHafTMkBEayXJVetlRY8y9BzCwp9eSLF39dLPV0859cc7pCTErfgkFcddV3HA0SAphCT9BF7xMJK8GyaU/s1600/101205_PetersPoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSN9QVsl7yPepINlAi5Yfz8WLuHyqNEAFgyoj8DlEYjExH2V_38tLf1EFsOgWHafTMkBEayXJVetlRY8y9BzCwp9eSLF39dLPV0859cc7pCTErfgkFcddV3HA0SAphCT9BF7xMJK8GyaU/s1600/101205_PetersPoint.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View along the coast from Peters Point.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIErhipEzEE9sQjfx5kTS648IPvDvDhUBDqbxYgNz8l5YKwFWbPouamFMwCBzHuzjSK1is2matjFXLQLRLXCfrsoQGMxcqcGJXtyNwj_6xx8nLLBJBHB2i8-DsQWNdz1vSOygESurt9_0/s1600/101205_MaoriBeach.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The suspension bridge at Maori Beach.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_sPog0jn3p-SrpHgwBFK1WdDRDwWdfz3LNc9ysSuI6lQGi0OOpAE54zlOW7gGL6Vxyxf4F3E4q282IjH7-RLJKiBujVjv4U6WKTYqu-AvQoEAVaZSVyg_9obPfn6ZhRX83mmdZjgCLw/s1600/101205_Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_sPog0jn3p-SrpHgwBFK1WdDRDwWdfz3LNc9ysSuI6lQGi0OOpAE54zlOW7gGL6Vxyxf4F3E4q282IjH7-RLJKiBujVjv4U6WKTYqu-AvQoEAVaZSVyg_9obPfn6ZhRX83mmdZjgCLw/s1600/101205_Forest.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lovely dense native forest between Port William and North Arm.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe-qL70o7ya8ygtwiglvSx1UOeFUBShSIhfQvh29Qba9qINyJq9itDBOgJhHv2KMki745-VXYtAJVELAi2fJKKhmUqhKdfm8Zd9ICKIYamV-f4xnQjjMph2ogFjQyTTccykaDbUDJK0U/s1600/101205_Swingbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe-qL70o7ya8ygtwiglvSx1UOeFUBShSIhfQvh29Qba9qINyJq9itDBOgJhHv2KMki745-VXYtAJVELAi2fJKKhmUqhKdfm8Zd9ICKIYamV-f4xnQjjMph2ogFjQyTTccykaDbUDJK0U/s1600/101205_Swingbridge.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A temporary </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">suspension bridge between Port William and North Arm, due to construction work of a collapsed part of the track.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjuLv2IaBlWPZJF0pvdTX1xDpGmJ9WFg5fL_6_bxJ793KNeEhDdzC_A6AGjmiBZubJwq9cz4o3Q2uhpiluni5-dlhlbOYa41pEFOSwyGS3LBS1wYleLk32PmwhkIxT26dWBPfG0LPKRo/s1600/101205_Stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjuLv2IaBlWPZJF0pvdTX1xDpGmJ9WFg5fL_6_bxJ793KNeEhDdzC_A6AGjmiBZubJwq9cz4o3Q2uhpiluni5-dlhlbOYa41pEFOSwyGS3LBS1wYleLk32PmwhkIxT26dWBPfG0LPKRo/s1600/101205_Stream.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A nice stream along the track.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGN19_b9oQVqw_CBcgN7SJeh4-EP0TXZI3ncn6fHc2WoHQ0f0Xie_7qXwKFkhFbOGyIeIww7EbsX8by1eGrLrW5rTojsQPf_79kScSt0Jb4s6mjPXyVVaVCV1h3zs2Iy_dAJFcWrMID8/s1600/101205_PricesInlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGN19_b9oQVqw_CBcgN7SJeh4-EP0TXZI3ncn6fHc2WoHQ0f0Xie_7qXwKFkhFbOGyIeIww7EbsX8by1eGrLrW5rTojsQPf_79kScSt0Jb4s6mjPXyVVaVCV1h3zs2Iy_dAJFcWrMID8/s1600/101205_PricesInlet.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View towards Prices Inlet.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyEjMYqRVdAmM-T6nfOE3q1GVceaZXi_pZyIWYUIuwOeAJPVoGFaOQqJDXSKGwZ_Nke5YLkIlbdjbafxgVZrFrgV_8NRq4VSTPkipLsjWCKj9T5g4rYOP6p38WCEfZ_DtoQGOVDkOP0w/s1600/101205_NorthArmHut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSyEjMYqRVdAmM-T6nfOE3q1GVceaZXi_pZyIWYUIuwOeAJPVoGFaOQqJDXSKGwZ_Nke5YLkIlbdjbafxgVZrFrgV_8NRq4VSTPkipLsjWCKj9T5g4rYOP6p38WCEfZ_DtoQGOVDkOP0w/s1600/101205_NorthArmHut.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The North Arm hut.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMhhSKgqBJ3DIEd84_yZ34fJLP6jQT0NAGv8waSAe0bKlhyphenhyphenOJ9O7zhyphenhyphenvnO9WYwVVaQqGbIMRiS1et1RxekWFzMQVDuHwIbzVDaG2nb3Ddqn3s67jNBT9u_YY5v-QJPHVleghgaXZPMQk/s1600/101205_NorthArm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMhhSKgqBJ3DIEd84_yZ34fJLP6jQT0NAGv8waSAe0bKlhyphenhyphenOJ9O7zhyphenhyphenvnO9WYwVVaQqGbIMRiS1et1RxekWFzMQVDuHwIbzVDaG2nb3Ddqn3s67jNBT9u_YY5v-QJPHVleghgaXZPMQk/s1600/101205_NorthArm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the North Arm seen from the hut.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtapTg6t5nPjKKH0rQxJqd9GIB3AAHcihXZ7n2BlcMrOv26x_izPbaeBghBrNQVqkOX7rm5fnucgXGxJkan4Y3t_ycvkfbt70WvM_2JT28igsSsiY3U7QGgvKdAD0d6nuUqvdkYjurC_4/s1600/101205_ButterfieldBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtapTg6t5nPjKKH0rQxJqd9GIB3AAHcihXZ7n2BlcMrOv26x_izPbaeBghBrNQVqkOX7rm5fnucgXGxJkan4Y3t_ycvkfbt70WvM_2JT28igsSsiY3U7QGgvKdAD0d6nuUqvdkYjurC_4/s1600/101205_ButterfieldBeach.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View at Butterfield Beach nine o'clock in the evening!</span></span></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-81686868336477594802010-12-04T23:58:00.003+13:002010-12-06T14:06:33.002+13:00An orgy of albatrosses – 4th<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Andy served breakfast at 9am. Delicious and wholesome as usual. I got ready for a pelagic trip and walked down to the harbour, with a stop for a latte to go. The old wooden boat Rawhiti left the harbour at 10:30am. The skipper John Leask arranges different excursions and this one were in fact dedicated to traditional fishing with hand lines. While the other participants fishing Blue Cod I enjoyed all the seabirds around the boat. It was indeed an orgy of White-capped Albatrosses, which were the most numerous species throughout the boat tour. Following species were recorded: Blue Penguin (10), White-capped Albatross (c. 150), Wandering Albatross (1), Salvin’s Albatross (1), Buller’s Albatross (1), Giant Petrel (2), Cape Petrel (10), Common Diving Petrel (3), Sooty Shearwater (c. 100), Brown Skua (2), Australian Gannet (2), Red-billed Gull (100), Black-backed Gull (20), White-fronted Tern (10) and four species of shags. A completely great day at sea and John took care of everything and served coffee, cooked blue cod and fried paua on toast. We arrived to the harbour at 4pm. I was very excited, but kind of exhausted too. Almost 500 photos of albatrosses and other seabirds! I took a power nap for an hour then walked the Horseshoe Point track for about three hours. Great views and the usual bird species were seen in the lovely forest.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VELhqJzbQ6bqBbiZb-ryeDmdjR2You5_mpyl57wS_ibIiD1hejOTs5MZzW72JF0fu6M8A0wZzELnHaFmLWUpHbALPWd8hBm_fnVPDryZWw54g4Y3s-3uiSIpHwKt_t79TyCTiU8wPNI/s1600/101204_boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VELhqJzbQ6bqBbiZb-ryeDmdjR2You5_mpyl57wS_ibIiD1hejOTs5MZzW72JF0fu6M8A0wZzELnHaFmLWUpHbALPWd8hBm_fnVPDryZWw54g4Y3s-3uiSIpHwKt_t79TyCTiU8wPNI/s1600/101204_boat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The old wooden boat "Rawhiti".</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKooTZD5X6Vnvr11CypeQgQ1nhMPUUVN1CUoiFZb-owcowZHqtDWb2sFFbioYtI_G7KuOvZyVUYZ1x8pZj7bsygZJkmJMsCYinRg-Zw_LbhYc0lajc4D07Eych_uaHA_tqAoLfl8i6Z4/s1600/101204_boat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKooTZD5X6Vnvr11CypeQgQ1nhMPUUVN1CUoiFZb-owcowZHqtDWb2sFFbioYtI_G7KuOvZyVUYZ1x8pZj7bsygZJkmJMsCYinRg-Zw_LbhYc0lajc4D07Eych_uaHA_tqAoLfl8i6Z4/s1600/101204_boat2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On our way out to the open sea.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciDgMVsh4iI31QfNAn_gkeCvdVm8QqMXYb-NmlC9d5eieXch9EISyDES6wgOcIGlzYkjUAGa_OZIlHe9jSCYM0b6LoWb2yuoR-KkBN0EUpwQXEAmXI8etodbirXj7zUHHCq8-6mIMQ-A/s1600/101204_White-capped7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciDgMVsh4iI31QfNAn_gkeCvdVm8QqMXYb-NmlC9d5eieXch9EISyDES6wgOcIGlzYkjUAGa_OZIlHe9jSCYM0b6LoWb2yuoR-KkBN0EUpwQXEAmXI8etodbirXj7zUHHCq8-6mIMQ-A/s1600/101204_White-capped7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kevin from Christchurch looking for albatrosses.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7Oc7pqYajYBG48sj93FvbofX1o4uYMDyyJZhHlOjt1PCz4xjBMVWgq4PkGL2VUSYvrlclKPWmNyBbUsxRZk63RbAkRLrgMqDboJxmuVTslZ2ZVL37XfdmXlEPVSLl7cZaWVWioqG07Q/s1600/101204_vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7Oc7pqYajYBG48sj93FvbofX1o4uYMDyyJZhHlOjt1PCz4xjBMVWgq4PkGL2VUSYvrlclKPWmNyBbUsxRZk63RbAkRLrgMqDboJxmuVTslZ2ZVL37XfdmXlEPVSLl7cZaWVWioqG07Q/s1600/101204_vy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Part of Stewart Island and Paterson Inlet.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnwEf82ER5UB5pPWiOFtGOfqKVSAVxPxcLDAxyN99cjJPBtyy4a1_bFwQx7rgRNHxDCPB7S5oaC36E9Q2ZOQ8zmUYo0Bww2Na7iO26ldz5gWBgXSUPuEhUHutxX-6edgOCpwtVKfiriM/s1600/101204_White-capped3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnwEf82ER5UB5pPWiOFtGOfqKVSAVxPxcLDAxyN99cjJPBtyy4a1_bFwQx7rgRNHxDCPB7S5oaC36E9Q2ZOQ8zmUYo0Bww2Na7iO26ldz5gWBgXSUPuEhUHutxX-6edgOCpwtVKfiriM/s1600/101204_White-capped3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatrosses. No, the photo is not arranged.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSwosNcZWA1IG2IYUg0ssjB4cQUT467G5E4iRdDE4djaiBR93ECL9QEdmJN-tu-yWP_V1SPUp9_OI6UYs18CzZIKW0DNQVDPEuL2fkte0NmUOm2ZEDg_bbMEFyhZDQbPqZLnfc9VTGPw/s1600/101204_White-capped5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSwosNcZWA1IG2IYUg0ssjB4cQUT467G5E4iRdDE4djaiBR93ECL9QEdmJN-tu-yWP_V1SPUp9_OI6UYs18CzZIKW0DNQVDPEuL2fkte0NmUOm2ZEDg_bbMEFyhZDQbPqZLnfc9VTGPw/s1600/101204_White-capped5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynRVmKh_7r6kJky31cac3286nQtXt66ofGpUCoK1htSHEF8Gp2kil1HV8L530rtc-0IgmAHqF2fmJ2Z-82Ao13X2mx33c1sl_RESbPQUYaZ2d3SwUUMis06szDZ0jhTAgoogx8wqUymc/s1600/101204_vy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynRVmKh_7r6kJky31cac3286nQtXt66ofGpUCoK1htSHEF8Gp2kil1HV8L530rtc-0IgmAHqF2fmJ2Z-82Ao13X2mx33c1sl_RESbPQUYaZ2d3SwUUMis06szDZ0jhTAgoogx8wqUymc/s1600/101204_vy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This island were named The Haystack by Cook.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm63BiIwXj1TTLecHktm1HhSg4YeXTQDuP3RkmBSzftlGP-qH86DN8-Lh2PShP1ectDWsPyl6wMbo-mPpG2MB_PM699DsyVc6Z0WkjEOXr0ywsE39JkF1FEk_brTbEYO_IJe4ukaSfnOA/s1600/101204_White-capped4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm63BiIwXj1TTLecHktm1HhSg4YeXTQDuP3RkmBSzftlGP-qH86DN8-Lh2PShP1ectDWsPyl6wMbo-mPpG2MB_PM699DsyVc6Z0WkjEOXr0ywsE39JkF1FEk_brTbEYO_IJe4ukaSfnOA/s1600/101204_White-capped4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross "hanging" in the wind.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6BM0V0j5cUH-Q3vqKldMD3Eiak1M_J1GnLQhhtZ8UNBYbfB28ESp58tweOi_VaGovflk91ISSrj3nXLF8oo0_oj63AocFyjajuw2N2RjQKU31CW-R115zaCaQcIxgu0mFSFXXga2fUw/s1600/101204_White-capped2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6BM0V0j5cUH-Q3vqKldMD3Eiak1M_J1GnLQhhtZ8UNBYbfB28ESp58tweOi_VaGovflk91ISSrj3nXLF8oo0_oj63AocFyjajuw2N2RjQKU31CW-R115zaCaQcIxgu0mFSFXXga2fUw/s1600/101204_White-capped2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A beautiful White-capped Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWpf8Q5JrxZW-yJJbf7jcCwdfRVE6aIrXv5WBnn_7h7Jidf5SaaY46jA2MtbEClN4wA7uSooqWS-xm_uPJd8vYR2fAKksImZC7V74y8Uin3pcjCthrUQvS5furtfXZHRZcpKVPcBcQpE/s1600/101204_White-capped6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWpf8Q5JrxZW-yJJbf7jcCwdfRVE6aIrXv5WBnn_7h7Jidf5SaaY46jA2MtbEClN4wA7uSooqWS-xm_uPJd8vYR2fAKksImZC7V74y8Uin3pcjCthrUQvS5furtfXZHRZcpKVPcBcQpE/s1600/101204_White-capped6.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2agX_pZMn7UDWacrhvdnoJjPnrwGDuovjWec7Rv8Vaaunh67zTguSq61-NQx6PMwClnQHyeErXOHzekWcd6yrxsgg1VRCjyRLBfALU7y-d8fieMugF6Tz_2tbw014vBjNB7j-O__yago/s1600/101204_Buller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2agX_pZMn7UDWacrhvdnoJjPnrwGDuovjWec7Rv8Vaaunh67zTguSq61-NQx6PMwClnQHyeErXOHzekWcd6yrxsgg1VRCjyRLBfALU7y-d8fieMugF6Tz_2tbw014vBjNB7j-O__yago/s1600/101204_Buller.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buller's Albatross, did a quick stop only.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GfzL3XKv7Xgiu7Wex4YAeFE5HoUXP4qlhLcGbflR9awCUoLdGM4PWBR1sMV3zn2R0dBMFEw_ersAaGVgfXLBZ1vP-SYE4xuHUpXuU3cN0EggUusda48D8T494gi8LEjAzUP9ijxxzPc/s1600/101204_Salvins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GfzL3XKv7Xgiu7Wex4YAeFE5HoUXP4qlhLcGbflR9awCUoLdGM4PWBR1sMV3zn2R0dBMFEw_ersAaGVgfXLBZ1vP-SYE4xuHUpXuU3cN0EggUusda48D8T494gi8LEjAzUP9ijxxzPc/s1600/101204_Salvins.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Salvin's Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGFmEXSMZhTancruzMt00oqFk79y5zQpFudRIAAZUUu3q1CVIOyZ3XvIBk8pacfVHey3qHlkYM2NjED_bEoMoFjK7KgMPh8tZlC_i7IAaqwGfxCGZ5JsVk74z2XyzXLdOuA3ix9uvfAo/s1600/101204_White-capped_settled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGFmEXSMZhTancruzMt00oqFk79y5zQpFudRIAAZUUu3q1CVIOyZ3XvIBk8pacfVHey3qHlkYM2NjED_bEoMoFjK7KgMPh8tZlC_i7IAaqwGfxCGZ5JsVk74z2XyzXLdOuA3ix9uvfAo/s1600/101204_White-capped_settled.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2BQQbH_SHIv7H0A9LZO1VAYZHftKe8u-ue2g_hxE482-WLb5NwfL3nCLpUNXAxcKjgfeO1PMSQcdKdPfvrrpwQalyTATn3fbPxEuqr2qa9qAzew85NuWMhhV12K4H11WqCepCe0csRY/s1600/101204_White-capped_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2BQQbH_SHIv7H0A9LZO1VAYZHftKe8u-ue2g_hxE482-WLb5NwfL3nCLpUNXAxcKjgfeO1PMSQcdKdPfvrrpwQalyTATn3fbPxEuqr2qa9qAzew85NuWMhhV12K4H11WqCepCe0csRY/s1600/101204_White-capped_detail.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What an awesome good-looking bird!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LWgysOUhdsEOi3vztchsBjKqis7fsZE5FlC_Hi3aKKrfoXv-8coHyWQe7frDBJDj1XpTZwar4exIOGuzLqc3mIdeSmxPrMAa1WqN4h1lyedIz4gO7Gy8dYZXQMKo9GWMI0TsAU4eMJk/s1600/101204_mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LWgysOUhdsEOi3vztchsBjKqis7fsZE5FlC_Hi3aKKrfoXv-8coHyWQe7frDBJDj1XpTZwar4exIOGuzLqc3mIdeSmxPrMAa1WqN4h1lyedIz4gO7Gy8dYZXQMKo9GWMI0TsAU4eMJk/s1600/101204_mess.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatrosses, Red-billed Gulls and a single Black-backed Gull.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-86662560081730183972010-12-04T09:50:00.001+13:002010-12-06T14:07:22.973+13:00Ulva island – 3rd<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at Jo and Andy. I then headed to Golden Bay via the Fuchsia and Raroa tracks with good margin for birding. I saw the usual birds such as Kaka, Tui, Red-crowned Parakeet, Bellbird and a few Tom tits. I reached Golden Bay just before 9am and people were already boarding the regular watertaxi. I and the Canadian birder, Dave Tannahill, had to wait ten minutes for the next ride to Ulva island. Ulva island is an open sanctuary. The majority of the island (around 260 ha) is part of Rakiura National Park.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">I and Dave birded through the islands track all day long (7 hours). We had a good time together and lot of great sightings of all bird species as we birded along very slowly. We recorded at least ten South Island Saddlebacks, of which to were immatures and five were non-ringed birds. Brown creeper were quite common, which goes for Tui, Kaka and Bellbird too. We only saw three Yellowheads and we had to wait long until we noted the first one, which were close-up one on the ground! Only a few Grey Warblers were seen and heard. Tomtits were seen now and then. In all I think we saw about 20 Stewart Island Robin, all of them were colour-ringed. A very nice bird species and they are totally unafraid and just show up or disappear without a sound. Like the Siberian Jay in Scandinavia. Dave and I just had lovely day on Ulva island.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Back in Oban I had a Fish n´chips at the harbour and then picked up my scope and headed to Ackers Point, which I think is a good spot for seawatching. And Yes, I had two hours of good seawatching at the lookout point. At least 40 White-capped Albatrosses passed by and I was able to photograph several of them! About 600 Sooty Shearwaters, of which 200 were seen in one dense flock. A single Cape Petrel and Giant Petrel were also recorded as well as a total of 30 Blue Penguins. I ended the day birding at 9pm and arranged with a fisherman to join him on a boat trip tomorrow, which I highly look forward too.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFdzW8T6yI2YpXK9sTuxy9p0JHtvPFlSY06fp-PTfys4zJqXCEfZdbGV6mMM94nSxne3JwEDe3oLYNS15Hq8Nf_NNnSTnDR0Hy1e4ASTvK93PvT9x7-gyfOeLB1ityRWimCel-jlYRYQ/s1600/101203_vy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFdzW8T6yI2YpXK9sTuxy9p0JHtvPFlSY06fp-PTfys4zJqXCEfZdbGV6mMM94nSxne3JwEDe3oLYNS15Hq8Nf_NNnSTnDR0Hy1e4ASTvK93PvT9x7-gyfOeLB1ityRWimCel-jlYRYQ/s1600/101203_vy3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View from the landing-stage at Golden Bay while waiting for the watertaxi to Ulva island.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwoOUluQ0-5vJP9XggM89ZDF2GESd8EJxdGivDgKdcjUfGbxySpv3tiBbyMHNYGN2w9ucmq2UHX0-WPed6cT0cLZSl3IDLsMuYBXQW80XMTilzUCKlMJsaZe8RGA77oU7b_bUM9wKW-U/s1600/101203_Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwoOUluQ0-5vJP9XggM89ZDF2GESd8EJxdGivDgKdcjUfGbxySpv3tiBbyMHNYGN2w9ucmq2UHX0-WPed6cT0cLZSl3IDLsMuYBXQW80XMTilzUCKlMJsaZe8RGA77oU7b_bUM9wKW-U/s1600/101203_Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A lovely Stewart Island Robin along the track.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYy-1UpO8yrBx5JCpE6cXyZlGlVfiTQiIdTp3GCMxCAARc9lSW18BQDMAF9TiC_oeAm-KIPlewbPy7ky_ITWsHy4EweQ4rE44FkEL0bWqPtim6C4jJ2UHGPs0H4niCJqRG0T9624oRkc/s1600/101203_Saddleback1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYy-1UpO8yrBx5JCpE6cXyZlGlVfiTQiIdTp3GCMxCAARc9lSW18BQDMAF9TiC_oeAm-KIPlewbPy7ky_ITWsHy4EweQ4rE44FkEL0bWqPtim6C4jJ2UHGPs0H4niCJqRG0T9624oRkc/s1600/101203_Saddleback1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the beautiful South Island Saddlebacks. Usually on the ground in shady areas.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRB_ISyxV_gZmQN1LaM8XS4ADX3ZHXvIAf7JcZSrR_uzu7ABdLLjjbp8hgfBwpCZdLqihvF2W3zZXHfZ0bsbf3hyphenhyphentVlAw-nI1p3ECCT4SlO1bCi3XX1boXn630qI1UOz8n6vFtCxQixE/s1600/101203_Kaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRB_ISyxV_gZmQN1LaM8XS4ADX3ZHXvIAf7JcZSrR_uzu7ABdLLjjbp8hgfBwpCZdLqihvF2W3zZXHfZ0bsbf3hyphenhyphentVlAw-nI1p3ECCT4SlO1bCi3XX1boXn630qI1UOz8n6vFtCxQixE/s1600/101203_Kaka.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A curious Kaka along the track.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCglZsirNsqhvLgmxW7DwDi8LOiZ3f1ud90XOUZDCMMely4pNIqwjUW_3OZ5TTifDlj31mcxWzn3cbfGCaoQhB3WYUFa9yPTrUqbF8nNp2GQlfBQvdomWGX0zXB7vl2hF8kSzbejk5Nc/s1600/101203_vy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCglZsirNsqhvLgmxW7DwDi8LOiZ3f1ud90XOUZDCMMely4pNIqwjUW_3OZ5TTifDlj31mcxWzn3cbfGCaoQhB3WYUFa9yPTrUqbF8nNp2GQlfBQvdomWGX0zXB7vl2hF8kSzbejk5Nc/s1600/101203_vy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The beach at Sydney Cove on Ulva island.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpD59-_mYpgqXiO4cWK9ylE-8Fw0bh4a2b7Ljrzcsn2pE8pr-ByE_whNPBFShdFDDOlLcgHHtOWzNS2K_gHgQjohzOgWPpc9Fz83g3v2qA8do8QsH95a81L6L3afyE2ti3g7Ax7eFg38/s1600/101203_Weka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpD59-_mYpgqXiO4cWK9ylE-8Fw0bh4a2b7Ljrzcsn2pE8pr-ByE_whNPBFShdFDDOlLcgHHtOWzNS2K_gHgQjohzOgWPpc9Fz83g3v2qA8do8QsH95a81L6L3afyE2ti3g7Ax7eFg38/s1600/101203_Weka.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Stewart Island Weka on the beach.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS4NKEos1trcZjC1qxHg-nEZ-hGUl74b4EX9iz2z2lN_TcIfgTLjh1icexqpKSw1QjDrD_g-E_ChCjdoEAupe2SKLL8pqtiBuwXULv6E-D5WhJTIs8kgphN1HmJBO1L175JtMhPSFpuY/s1600/101203_vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS4NKEos1trcZjC1qxHg-nEZ-hGUl74b4EX9iz2z2lN_TcIfgTLjh1icexqpKSw1QjDrD_g-E_ChCjdoEAupe2SKLL8pqtiBuwXULv6E-D5WhJTIs8kgphN1HmJBO1L175JtMhPSFpuY/s1600/101203_vy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boulder Beach on Ulva island.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqP0BZAIfZuPmbZMJhjUtQcpYKx-S0iaoEmXdArW2A-Ia4QjwyTk69azGBImbMsD2OWs00mLV2vrkr7lb4uAEaP3Ngx4XyoQPYvXRvkclLRtgHgeUsmdCr91bh18KjR2VMk6_TeVZ8lw/s1600/101203_Dave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqP0BZAIfZuPmbZMJhjUtQcpYKx-S0iaoEmXdArW2A-Ia4QjwyTk69azGBImbMsD2OWs00mLV2vrkr7lb4uAEaP3Ngx4XyoQPYvXRvkclLRtgHgeUsmdCr91bh18KjR2VMk6_TeVZ8lw/s1600/101203_Dave.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dave Tannahill from Canada. He has been travel for three months in Chile, Peru, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and finally in NZ, before he fly home on Monday.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyUjFOdh7tgwS45dViYj19XhA71IZryQFV7xa0vEKIWwdbqIltxeEddL3ZjVnpvj0Nsn3JMwtNBdz_Xafmne29IdfThwMRmedn-fTYtYojfaL9_8HbNF6GSMYlw1qgL1yTSxhuHvMBF0/s1600/101203_Ackerspoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyUjFOdh7tgwS45dViYj19XhA71IZryQFV7xa0vEKIWwdbqIltxeEddL3ZjVnpvj0Nsn3JMwtNBdz_Xafmne29IdfThwMRmedn-fTYtYojfaL9_8HbNF6GSMYlw1qgL1yTSxhuHvMBF0/s1600/101203_Ackerspoint.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View from the lookout at Ackers Point.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBvjTv0XHrz-o-HShpAY37QDFqFd3iJxZrfACgE4Xk4h_5-yO8ahbXSflNGFJMDXaS-yqJkvtmGICnsG_6CSHxi2wGgQLiRnP5kwK9bESIzdTLYBBSaTecNdCT2WtN75_L0VBVDQ6pkg/s1600/101203_terns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBvjTv0XHrz-o-HShpAY37QDFqFd3iJxZrfACgE4Xk4h_5-yO8ahbXSflNGFJMDXaS-yqJkvtmGICnsG_6CSHxi2wGgQLiRnP5kwK9bESIzdTLYBBSaTecNdCT2WtN75_L0VBVDQ6pkg/s1600/101203_terns.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple of White-fronted Terns.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOJaS8OJ33p0aeYOjCqX1AaBNCL-kwWpn_8KLBNhIEp2llQIwMltiqt40pJp4S9JTK79w-xOHA9FCmcWHiZjy9t_NAIPweTRE3HDev4YT3SH1clvPUkSYYg8UjZ9OeMTpGupGxdxnrMw/s1600/101203_White-capped1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOJaS8OJ33p0aeYOjCqX1AaBNCL-kwWpn_8KLBNhIEp2llQIwMltiqt40pJp4S9JTK79w-xOHA9FCmcWHiZjy9t_NAIPweTRE3HDev4YT3SH1clvPUkSYYg8UjZ9OeMTpGupGxdxnrMw/s1600/101203_White-capped1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross seen from shore!</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Several were seen almost in the harbour of the Halfmoon Bay!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqWDUOMWa5JnZtEBJIaSlXgqAf5984WYiUNqlGWx4VQcRil9x0zo8P29LV_US5Hh1oi41kddfto_NwEn3s8F7cej1BMjfnGdGu4pOFUkd4LI1daZyLhZkd0uiajDcHlxFqVghFRyzyjU/s1600/101203_White-capped2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqWDUOMWa5JnZtEBJIaSlXgqAf5984WYiUNqlGWx4VQcRil9x0zo8P29LV_US5Hh1oi41kddfto_NwEn3s8F7cej1BMjfnGdGu4pOFUkd4LI1daZyLhZkd0uiajDcHlxFqVghFRyzyjU/s1600/101203_White-capped2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross seen from Ackers Point.</span></span></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-27968536893298241162010-12-03T23:21:00.001+13:002010-12-03T23:22:25.885+13:00Stewart Island Brown Kiwi – 2nd<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">I was picked up by Stewart Island Experience at Tuatara lodge for transfer to the ferry terminal in Bluff. The small catamaran ferry left Bluff at 9:30am. The crossing to Halfmoon Bay (Oban) on Stewart Island took about one hour and were quite nice, as the sea was not too rough. Of course I stood on after-deck and scanning the sea for seabirds, of which I record: White-capped Albatross (7), Sooty Shearwater (18), Common Diving Petrel (26), Brown Skua (1), Blue Penguin (6), White-fronted Tern (20), Spotted Shag (3) and Stewart Island Shag (6). Unfortunately, no <i>Pterodroma</i>-petrels were seen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">Landed in the small fishing village Halfmoon Bay. Picked up my baggage and walked some 200 metres to my prebooked accommodation at Jo and Andy B&B. Andy were awaiting me and its sort of homestay accommodation were very cosy with a genuine personal style, which appeal to me. Andy did help me to arrange a nocturnal Kiwi tour with Philip Smith in the evening and booking a watertaxi to Ulva island for the next day. When everything was done I headed to the DoC office across the street to get some information. I bought a few maps and then walked a few tracks for about three hours. I saw hundreds of Tuis (not kidding), Bellbirds, about 30 nice Kaka, Tomtit (30), Rifleman (5), Fantail (5), Yellow-crowned Parakeet (2 pairs), NZ Pigeon (50) and lot of Silvereyes. Lovely forests and good number of birds!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;">Quarter to nine in the evening I boarded the boat Wildfire for a nocturnal Kiwi tour to a remote beach named Ocean Beach. We were about 10 persons full of expectations. On our way to the site we saw some 20 Blue Penguins, one Giant Petrel, Spotted and Stewart Island Shags. Well at the landing-stage Philip had a little lecture about the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi and some instructions by the guide Greg. We then enter the track through the forest to the beach, which took about 20 minutes. Well at the beach we heard a male Kiwi calling in the forest! It was dark when we started to walk along the Ocean beach, where the Kiwis come to feed at night. The only torchlight used was handled by Greg. Finally, at the end of the beach we saw one Kiwi, but as we came closer it suddenly run away to the forest. Slightly disappointed, we walked the beach over three more times without a slightest glimpse of a Kiwi. We decided to do a very last walk 11:30pm. And almost at the end of the beach there were a Kiwi feeding! We got closer slowly and could watch this strange creature within four metres! As the Kiwis are sensible and afraid of noises we had to wait for the happy celebration. What an experience! Knowing it’s very difficult to get a chance to see a Kiwi in the wild! I got to bed at 1:30am.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5MvLpNARN2qXxzRjmMj1-VTL68jdR4NMZqNJftZFKrZq_CI0uY38ovWq6ZBPXIWjN5x__CElkElzEadjWxvnreO4q4jAvkNhb6jHUdzO-kajcfGkor6CmYgsspm5xk2Ngn_Kp9d4BMc/s1600/101202_Halfmoonbay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5MvLpNARN2qXxzRjmMj1-VTL68jdR4NMZqNJftZFKrZq_CI0uY38ovWq6ZBPXIWjN5x__CElkElzEadjWxvnreO4q4jAvkNhb6jHUdzO-kajcfGkor6CmYgsspm5xk2Ngn_Kp9d4BMc/s1600/101202_Halfmoonbay.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Halfmoon Bay where the village Oban is located.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OY0ThxoVQXr0O4kVtD6JBrW89qt7hBGHj6eSyQH9eaMXU-nI9Xt7ZgR9exM6sF3mKQD67Smv4j79Hvyi69GgjeSDTSseHWgP3XobucCBlG4gQar0YA6bZLl6AduV9_4cf3RLYZXx4SU/s1600/101202_Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OY0ThxoVQXr0O4kVtD6JBrW89qt7hBGHj6eSyQH9eaMXU-nI9Xt7ZgR9exM6sF3mKQD67Smv4j79Hvyi69GgjeSDTSseHWgP3XobucCBlG4gQar0YA6bZLl6AduV9_4cf3RLYZXx4SU/s1600/101202_Forest.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A little part of the beautiful forest that surround Oban and most of the island.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPIATT34s-ob5WqknbypVIrKgKz6r1CtJGYAIDEv7L06PYDegu-joy2JKiw4q6LOhfVNn2xcUJ1gPYPvL1612xBtJ_4yX6rnQsLvAI3q_aAQZ-nNVp39sUZSBFqxNAKZRTN6QbIMhWYg/s1600/101202_Kaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPIATT34s-ob5WqknbypVIrKgKz6r1CtJGYAIDEv7L06PYDegu-joy2JKiw4q6LOhfVNn2xcUJ1gPYPvL1612xBtJ_4yX6rnQsLvAI3q_aAQZ-nNVp39sUZSBFqxNAKZRTN6QbIMhWYg/s1600/101202_Kaka.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kaka. A lovely, but very noise parrot. Like Kea, curious and not afraid of humans.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpRuMzGoOJg0VjGmlaHOLWiwOY8W5qJHHQq_CNFgJc5MIcD5EUCcwTqh_z57_uU9A6gUbzwv-S2OPX2krZhPqy19Ko-IQA4v3yBJQ8DHocLaUif7v7K9ozYT6ag9HCj7Z-hcXKm4Dv6M/s1600/101202_Kaka2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpRuMzGoOJg0VjGmlaHOLWiwOY8W5qJHHQq_CNFgJc5MIcD5EUCcwTqh_z57_uU9A6gUbzwv-S2OPX2krZhPqy19Ko-IQA4v3yBJQ8DHocLaUif7v7K9ozYT6ag9HCj7Z-hcXKm4Dv6M/s1600/101202_Kaka2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of about ten Kaka on the Fuchsia track.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0eW7MdcqNxTu3BrMMSm5lY5I_FDIQMVJR5mFrY35S7KYYCSpqxogDM0OPDXUB-cyanrCjcDPFfQdGANTapYPiDSwmFoJ9BQ8z0_xNKo51b1S9R7fzVE9gchx-9-Ew5DdgvOoKFqfMRQ/s1600/101202_Ackerspoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0eW7MdcqNxTu3BrMMSm5lY5I_FDIQMVJR5mFrY35S7KYYCSpqxogDM0OPDXUB-cyanrCjcDPFfQdGANTapYPiDSwmFoJ9BQ8z0_xNKo51b1S9R7fzVE9gchx-9-Ew5DdgvOoKFqfMRQ/s1600/101202_Ackerspoint.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View towards Ackers Point from Wohlers monument.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nM2B1t60QMWv6bogX_DjjWrZgYyEssH-VfyB-Z5_cCyvwlHtXpNKLzYgxgkWA1bww7gZ43aHl4WRAVCE8tE9PqakU3lFpHLj_4nA3vt1jrOYWcmspyY9yY_Cq-5lA8WCbJ8qIJiL4wg/s1600/101202_Pigeon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nM2B1t60QMWv6bogX_DjjWrZgYyEssH-VfyB-Z5_cCyvwlHtXpNKLzYgxgkWA1bww7gZ43aHl4WRAVCE8tE9PqakU3lFpHLj_4nA3vt1jrOYWcmspyY9yY_Cq-5lA8WCbJ8qIJiL4wg/s1600/101202_Pigeon2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In good light condition the NZ Pigeon is a real beauty!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh990Fg702fiQ8SK4f-ErMYitqS9uHIOB43IkRtKlsVHsWdRzfH8UBj-GMwMT23eOeC3OPS4SkcyTe4s8nZ3JTMgMP80-hIw-J6JAWZshQlLZ7dYBtB7P1fxUnHoKe9lyiQj7RufXDSc/s1600/101202_Tomtit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh990Fg702fiQ8SK4f-ErMYitqS9uHIOB43IkRtKlsVHsWdRzfH8UBj-GMwMT23eOeC3OPS4SkcyTe4s8nZ3JTMgMP80-hIw-J6JAWZshQlLZ7dYBtB7P1fxUnHoKe9lyiQj7RufXDSc/s1600/101202_Tomtit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A male of the South Island Tomtit.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuX2Oo3NJUeRARnn_gnbGqRyaYVoEqzD3vCmGh-yI3UDaEVitJiEzHtuUmDgmrfeKSH0bEgInxNoRV8xYK3ZXO08SE5dKIVaQ-6nrwpeoHNmujmkSnvHZfF4cpimZS3Gdkkg1SlwDraE/s1600/101202_Wildfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuX2Oo3NJUeRARnn_gnbGqRyaYVoEqzD3vCmGh-yI3UDaEVitJiEzHtuUmDgmrfeKSH0bEgInxNoRV8xYK3ZXO08SE5dKIVaQ-6nrwpeoHNmujmkSnvHZfF4cpimZS3Gdkkg1SlwDraE/s1600/101202_Wildfire.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The skipper Philip Smith giving some brief instructions before leaving the harbour.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jx73RRueo7nwAEsi5nlhUPTcFSMkp-gqqD6EcI2xDxHnzGOVOEXAqfP3XRVEMxPT5pYZ5Z1atxUuC6m0848pdhV-PkLPd9K3GRlqbDNgn0iZhdGdXcXBIUw9yR97f4t7B6LxNiYOeC8/s1600/101202_Kiwi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jx73RRueo7nwAEsi5nlhUPTcFSMkp-gqqD6EcI2xDxHnzGOVOEXAqfP3XRVEMxPT5pYZ5Z1atxUuC6m0848pdhV-PkLPd9K3GRlqbDNgn0iZhdGdXcXBIUw9yR97f4t7B6LxNiYOeC8/s1600/101202_Kiwi1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A quite huge male of Stewart Island Brown Kiwi. No flashes were used when photographing the Kiwi. The only light source was Greg's torchlight.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QNy1Z_Zix95YvFHpHptWrucRWBZUU-BKJXnW60_PlyCZVvHFIB4TigkPn4portYuWVOfQ1BZ37ztEEnPpVcrlzZBn0zR5cys_bbqC-lK_iugdXt0DlPLZpEV1Y_ryWGN4hanStnSeqQ/s1600/101202_Kiwi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QNy1Z_Zix95YvFHpHptWrucRWBZUU-BKJXnW60_PlyCZVvHFIB4TigkPn4portYuWVOfQ1BZ37ztEEnPpVcrlzZBn0zR5cys_bbqC-lK_iugdXt0DlPLZpEV1Y_ryWGN4hanStnSeqQ/s1600/101202_Kiwi2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another nice photo of the male Kiwi. Note the thick legs on both photos.</span></span></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-27793432847400355212010-12-01T21:39:00.003+13:002010-12-02T07:34:06.372+13:00Fernbirds at Ian and Jenny’s place – 1st Dec<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB">Woke up quite early. Calm and decreasing cloud. Hard to understand it’s 1</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">st</span></sup><span lang="en-GB"> December and about 18 degree below zero at home in Sweden. Had a soft breakfast and then a latte to go and headed towards Otatara by foot. After some 45 minutes I reached New River Estuary and it was lowtide. I scanned the mudflats with my scope and noted Bar-tailed Godwits (33), Pied Stilts (65), White-faced Herons (45), Pied Oystercatcher (7), Australian Shoveler (12), Black Swans, Masked Lapwings, Red-billed Gulls. I continued to Bushy Point Reserve and saw and heard lot of Tuis, many NZ Pigeons and a couple of Swamp Harriers. Finally I had a walk to Ian and Jenny Gamble’s privately owned reserve, which is known for its significant population of Fernbirds. Ian and Jenny welcomed me and invited me for a refreshing lunch and we had a nice chat. A very friendly and kind couple as well as ardent conservationists. They also offer comfortable homestay accommodation, see their <a href="http://www.fernbirds.co.nz/">website for more information</a>. Ian took me on a guided walk through the beautiful reserve. And of course did we see Fernbirds, lot of sightings of about 6-7 birds. But gosh, they are very difficult to photograph, even though one get close-up views. At two occasions I had two birds in front of me perched at the top of a little bush, but I wasn’t too cool while my camera tried to focus on the birds. However, it were just lovely to see and hear these birds within the peaceful reserve. After a small chat I said goodbye to Ian, Jenny and Raki (their cute dog). On my way back to Tuatara Lodge I had another scan at the Estuary, but nothing new. I was back to my room at 4pm and had a well-earned power nap. Tomorrow morning I will take the ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island for a five-day stay.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_dVCuglAljUciVojgvNX1xMnCfqtiPwNW0Tp6q7sbV6yjOqFul_mDTUotfijcvdfEGgEh-_yg-wlzCS9q5djj2GYQymP9SA34mHG-H65hp58-ob2hVxyGW9b9f8qcgD9fSX6cV0MRuY/s1600/101201_estuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_dVCuglAljUciVojgvNX1xMnCfqtiPwNW0Tp6q7sbV6yjOqFul_mDTUotfijcvdfEGgEh-_yg-wlzCS9q5djj2GYQymP9SA34mHG-H65hp58-ob2hVxyGW9b9f8qcgD9fSX6cV0MRuY/s1600/101201_estuary.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Part of New River Estuary in low-tide, with Bluff hill in far background</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP81gFSMoalV6fMMxJYU8OVSb3-F4t9XTn3yMiKtiK8Cdu6Je6CnxFZ0Oe0qelEeg7UoFyoXwox0IMRcjYldPB0fiXgty6uP5pCO1AN9W2MPM81jJKkPj5oe16ThM_03hC6qdBDcscMs/s1600/101201_pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP81gFSMoalV6fMMxJYU8OVSb3-F4t9XTn3yMiKtiK8Cdu6Je6CnxFZ0Oe0qelEeg7UoFyoXwox0IMRcjYldPB0fiXgty6uP5pCO1AN9W2MPM81jJKkPj5oe16ThM_03hC6qdBDcscMs/s1600/101201_pigeon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of many New Zealand (Wood) Pigeon.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWelYEG01Lu37at9WJCQQhkisEccWjq07BK9q94F1F90R900BMQ17oqgyE6E3IMOej2QJt9sxZ6BuoK0SFemOLzcSab5YFFsw8NJGwjP9XVFq4l7ZahNfWGDhenTjLXID5CSbUfRhi9jA/s1600/101201_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWelYEG01Lu37at9WJCQQhkisEccWjq07BK9q94F1F90R900BMQ17oqgyE6E3IMOej2QJt9sxZ6BuoK0SFemOLzcSab5YFFsw8NJGwjP9XVFq4l7ZahNfWGDhenTjLXID5CSbUfRhi9jA/s1600/101201_sign.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just follow the signs and I can highly recommend a visit at Jenny and Ian's reserve.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj6ggzlbnwWEOHwTn-B-d8j3LhIPIE26hxxpL7BlSW4uraYs-T7y6-qHj_uSABs1cHMD7tCbnTlyMD-wmcVzfsrrbVbMtqery6kOXJcAnFlbn-Zq8KN6dEoQcsjwnz-liBe1gppIYO8Y/s1600/101201_habitat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj6ggzlbnwWEOHwTn-B-d8j3LhIPIE26hxxpL7BlSW4uraYs-T7y6-qHj_uSABs1cHMD7tCbnTlyMD-wmcVzfsrrbVbMtqery6kOXJcAnFlbn-Zq8KN6dEoQcsjwnz-liBe1gppIYO8Y/s1600/101201_habitat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Part of the beautiful reserve and the habitat for Fernbirds. A very peaceful place.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tV2BxGp6zh_G34UAM54hNXdp5TJNHrCbRGFIsjXbzN6m_cL8OB-qJbpOYppOvW8Jsp-cusCrzV3RSD8o_rVSwOyA4KhvSc9xX9ta8oh3OOC2TMEA37NwVQBu9RXGA5juvaYiTBmZ3hU/s1600/101201_Fernbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tV2BxGp6zh_G34UAM54hNXdp5TJNHrCbRGFIsjXbzN6m_cL8OB-qJbpOYppOvW8Jsp-cusCrzV3RSD8o_rVSwOyA4KhvSc9xX9ta8oh3OOC2TMEA37NwVQBu9RXGA5juvaYiTBmZ3hU/s1600/101201_Fernbird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of about 30 blurry photos of Fernbirds, but please use your imagination:-)</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQFw1IBMPGnN39DFZ3EY2lKNpDv4_ZXHAycXAIeDZOnT82M6u4L5Oc_pXarTOvlqVoyFw_f4rBa2UwQ3yQaUr817M0RISYZAOlu80aj0I-27X7C18YOJXz0jmQyKc2weJWUUkzLshrvM/s1600/101201_Ian_Jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQFw1IBMPGnN39DFZ3EY2lKNpDv4_ZXHAycXAIeDZOnT82M6u4L5Oc_pXarTOvlqVoyFw_f4rBa2UwQ3yQaUr817M0RISYZAOlu80aj0I-27X7C18YOJXz0jmQyKc2weJWUUkzLshrvM/s1600/101201_Ian_Jenny.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ian and Jenny Gamble. A kind and happy couple!</span></div></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-46347495933262854112010-11-30T22:07:00.004+13:002010-11-30T22:12:31.796+13:00From a rainy Te Anau to a sunny Invercargill – 30th<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I am in the Gods of weather's good books as I have been very lucky with the weather throughout the whole trip. Is like the Gods had have study my itinerary and scheduled the weather to it, as suitable as possible. One may mention the five hours of rain in Kaikoura on 20th, yes, but it was well timed as I had to wash clothes and other boring things. And today as I was about to leave Te Anau it was raining already when I got up at 6am. Could not see the mountains in no direction. I had an easy breakfast and got on the bus to Invercargill at 8am. I put on my headphones and found Cure most suitable for the ride and the rainy grey mist outside. A nostalgic and gloomy affair, so to speak. Coincidentally, a beautiful track on Disintegration is named “Prayers For Rain”. I changed bus in Gore. What a name on a village. Suddenly, when we approached Invercargill there were breaks in the overcast. After an hour in Invercargill meanwhile I checked in at Tuatara Lodge it were sunny and almost clearblue sky. Concerning the Gods of weather…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a long walk exploring the centre of the city. I visited The Southland Museum and Art Gallery as well as the lovely Queens Park. Invercargill is somewhat a strange city and I don’t feel comfortable with its so called atmosphere. It’s like a sleeping town and after 7pm almost like a ghost town. However, I am not a party animal, but you know what I mean. It will be early to bed this evening. Tomorrow’s target species is Fernbird!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznWVZStGvzK2nS1HhjRUjKvkdMFyI7d0KO-noFy5feMxBZjXZjbNQe3O202B58kwbbeCw24ZVjf0pYxJMKh27GMN9lUkHGyQGRufj4QAuAgbmGR9NrnAObKrV9jYGr0BxJP5Kw2FXsmQ/s1600/101130_rainy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznWVZStGvzK2nS1HhjRUjKvkdMFyI7d0KO-noFy5feMxBZjXZjbNQe3O202B58kwbbeCw24ZVjf0pYxJMKh27GMN9lUkHGyQGRufj4QAuAgbmGR9NrnAObKrV9jYGr0BxJP5Kw2FXsmQ/s1600/101130_rainy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Picture through the bus window, while listening to Cure. Perfect travelling weather.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1MC5433WWUjiKr84DXIehOPXUWEX4mM7Ddb5q6Xl0yW96REfBqOEyuofivAUDqKWU0Uc2mvZRt4SIOERZ3HkGnW_YQ9UYc0SMJbjvl_ABbYIdVUeGABwK0UsGCgRJaCnYu0tp2GcRnU/s1600/101130_museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1MC5433WWUjiKr84DXIehOPXUWEX4mM7Ddb5q6Xl0yW96REfBqOEyuofivAUDqKWU0Uc2mvZRt4SIOERZ3HkGnW_YQ9UYc0SMJbjvl_ABbYIdVUeGABwK0UsGCgRJaCnYu0tp2GcRnU/s1600/101130_museum.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Southland Museum and Art Gallery</span><span lang="en-GB">. I enjoyed Roger Wandless photographic exhibition “Deepest Fiordland” very much. It also has the largest public display of live Tuatara in the world.</span></span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_RVOxtKQb22zHQq4TdsWnE8_8Yl9YZ2axJQKyRfJ-C7-kYMXObZZu0CzKtbgF7uBwIEDnHZcCzfD5oCsDyc7THahU1Z4FdJra2zGw801-Zq8okRtFfEw_o96Gt9ZOx0XUxEvIucrPEo/s1600/101130_Tuatara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_RVOxtKQb22zHQq4TdsWnE8_8Yl9YZ2axJQKyRfJ-C7-kYMXObZZu0CzKtbgF7uBwIEDnHZcCzfD5oCsDyc7THahU1Z4FdJra2zGw801-Zq8okRtFfEw_o96Gt9ZOx0XUxEvIucrPEo/s1600/101130_Tuatara.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tuatara is the only survivor of an ancient group of reptiles that roamed the earth at the same time as dinosaurs, which is why the tuatara is called a “living fossil”. Tuatara once lived throughout the mainland of New Zealand, but have survived in the wild only on 32 offshore islands. Tuatara is a Maori word meaning "spiny back".</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAQ9c9Ms4akZdYbCeMmVrYBBapTIxkHX-I6TSYJQhlQkGDwxvnB3if8h2RSSOJMYa-nlgfm55f0b30G6d7r-4yY13G_o2wb1xtVrzeMN0dGDWoQzey6MiEUY0AVWnmIxk5dAVFy6EvV8/s1600/101130_Tuatara2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAQ9c9Ms4akZdYbCeMmVrYBBapTIxkHX-I6TSYJQhlQkGDwxvnB3if8h2RSSOJMYa-nlgfm55f0b30G6d7r-4yY13G_o2wb1xtVrzeMN0dGDWoQzey6MiEUY0AVWnmIxk5dAVFy6EvV8/s1600/101130_Tuatara2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A nice Tuatara baby. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Only once every two to five years will the female be ready to mate. The male will sit outside her burrow and wait. If she is interested they will mate and 8 or 9 months later she will lay and bury 6 to10 eggs in a sunny place. 11 to16 months later the baby tuatara will hatch.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5NFD7cDTVYmvn8YdMj3KemPk_xEglSqI4CBcfAkegZ7P9on9edvsx1LXUAiy1dL0SF60815vdwPPMSmmzr2w5Gx9bf4mWinD7PZrq5ukPw3Zpi4ElGpodXd26ICrYeek2bWUjn20CU/s1600/101130_picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG5NFD7cDTVYmvn8YdMj3KemPk_xEglSqI4CBcfAkegZ7P9on9edvsx1LXUAiy1dL0SF60815vdwPPMSmmzr2w5Gx9bf4mWinD7PZrq5ukPw3Zpi4ElGpodXd26ICrYeek2bWUjn20CU/s1600/101130_picture.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A nice carving in Maori style.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNG-Dhn6vxT1VHrWJEp7-7dX7HJzdqgGdkuoxxo7ciyebtGfzEZDLhgPp-iWQCFfamoQcDn2N9fxFAXmg8JNvI0Nvh6wWwaEjdmWGEsxQH7RrcBnRjEj0P722RP1Gm5TawkEOAHNZKJo/s1600/101130_smycke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNG-Dhn6vxT1VHrWJEp7-7dX7HJzdqgGdkuoxxo7ciyebtGfzEZDLhgPp-iWQCFfamoQcDn2N9fxFAXmg8JNvI0Nvh6wWwaEjdmWGEsxQH7RrcBnRjEj0P722RP1Gm5TawkEOAHNZKJo/s1600/101130_smycke.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span lang="en-GB">Tiki</span><span lang="en-GB">, which is one of the most popular Maori symbols. Also known as an emblem of other cultures belonging to the Polynesian culture. According to legends tiki was the first man on earth who originated from the stars.</span></span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-29373519773633067822010-11-29T21:05:00.004+13:002010-11-30T13:30:43.147+13:00Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park - 26-29th<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How to summarize a great walk such Kepler Track? Four days through beautiful native beech forests and subalpine mountain ridges in perfect weather conditions. One of the great walks indeed, but also the longest and probably the toughest one. Yes, a great challenge, but also a great experience. For this four-day journey by foot I had four bird species on my wish-to-see-list: Fiordland (Brown) Kiwi, Blue Duck, Kea and Rock Wren. I got all of them, except for the latter one. However, what in fact made me very happy were seeing so many of the native/endemic bird species and in good numbers too! For example I heard at least 70 singing Grey Gerygones, c. 30 Tomtits and 20 Fantails each day! Rifleman (a little cute bird, not a NZ sniper) were seen daily, with up to 60 birds on 27th (between Hanging valley and Iris Burn Hut). Tui and Bellbird were fairly common. In addition I also saw NZ Falcon (1), NZ Robin (three singin and non-ringed birds), Yellow-crowned Parakeet (2 pair), NZ Pigeon (5), Long-tailed Cuckoo, Morepork (1), Kingfisher (3), Kea (7) and NZ Pipit (10). I was very happy to find a pair of Blue Ducks in the evening downstreams of the Big Slip in Iris Burn river! The male were "whistling" for about ten minutes. Later in the evening I was told by the DoC (Department of Conservation) Ranger Pat, that the pair had been present in this part of the river for a couple of weeks. I kept myself awake on Saturday night and I was regarded with 2-3 calling male Fiordland (Brown) Kiwis. Their ringing call echoed in the dark valley of Iris Burn. I think I fell asleep with a cool smile on my face. My God, it's impossible to paint up that perfect picture with words, even with help of photos. So, why do I even try? To cut a long (walk) story short, the Kepler Track were just awesome and memorable. Please enjoy the photos from the walk.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVsYP0cd3XnHeE_BKKGoTOgVYUvBuu61o-z1jCZgktODa3EaRcDS9oyLgskMLTdvt7uJmpDevkTzV36HoGeJIKHCihmwHkAGFH-qHDidLe_1K2ao_Z4tDq8fkDLUCuVW4a4axD2X55F0/s1600/101126_Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVsYP0cd3XnHeE_BKKGoTOgVYUvBuu61o-z1jCZgktODa3EaRcDS9oyLgskMLTdvt7uJmpDevkTzV36HoGeJIKHCihmwHkAGFH-qHDidLe_1K2ao_Z4tDq8fkDLUCuVW4a4axD2X55F0/s1600/101126_Sign.jpg" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajyBy1TEcPKYGsQuBtmmdQ7uKjhzqrKigiB7ZkS6dmK2YxHBcaXxk9pybY63WalCXRDlaImCNK2IDhK_h6NMmBk2mpWSRQ7dT5N7zuIc6f0CjHXTC60BIcyz1WYOiFLBRJEgS84Elx-Y/s1600/101126_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajyBy1TEcPKYGsQuBtmmdQ7uKjhzqrKigiB7ZkS6dmK2YxHBcaXxk9pybY63WalCXRDlaImCNK2IDhK_h6NMmBk2mpWSRQ7dT5N7zuIc6f0CjHXTC60BIcyz1WYOiFLBRJEgS84Elx-Y/s1600/101126_map.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Kepler Track is a 60 km circular track which travels through some of the spectacular scenery with its highest point at about 1400 m over sea level.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYwgODRmqh4zx1F6Vkil5JDNN_0eXrv7Ws39IHvl8liK2pEVitHTGcm3zZGJPj7is48ga5bPSgkdO-QazI12Jz_tZQRRe4aghg8gSCQoeffN1A_fTgkFZXjdiL263iy91O86zMZ8szDs/s1600/101126_vy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View from the southern shore of Lake Te Anau.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYwgODRmqh4zx1F6Vkil5JDNN_0eXrv7Ws39IHvl8liK2pEVitHTGcm3zZGJPj7is48ga5bPSgkdO-QazI12Jz_tZQRRe4aghg8gSCQoeffN1A_fTgkFZXjdiL263iy91O86zMZ8szDs/s1600/101126_vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_833544060" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6rG8n5cZARkSoBnew2wlG9gu8yyaxifIONu70bazUXpGZY2oaIwn6Tsxv9emEVoX2kjouth4tFpbrSfRk3BEVakYHtWsscvyqd0bon_q9YSVj4xBQm9V4J4rAQ7I407NwU2cFXtsS9c/s1600/101126_Scaups.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Male New Zealand Scaups in Lake Te Anau.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCM2AeMzkBIZPixTV1mzT4zExdUm4ijizGjkcI_IcFkTai-W-ltvLgrBFmRaQflRtzYI65JuoszpvqX7mUbG8B_UVf8XO3Qi3ypJXiBmC_AU-JCru-c7h3jZjiPJOoTnrLbWkrT7Wu8k/s1600/101126_vy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCM2AeMzkBIZPixTV1mzT4zExdUm4ijizGjkcI_IcFkTai-W-ltvLgrBFmRaQflRtzYI65JuoszpvqX7mUbG8B_UVf8XO3Qi3ypJXiBmC_AU-JCru-c7h3jZjiPJOoTnrLbWkrT7Wu8k/s1600/101126_vy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View from Mount Luxmore towards Lake Manapouri on the first day.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGOtSpnv-r0HWDLWuP4li3iPCna35OtN16ZBeZvTfVUhhTu0zQ6s2dCHtpiKXvDFLt5eJJmfQijkCqtPSunWrO8Nd1_I2FxQnaXP0yITgUlUVN6bGb4Jx4TPwPnZToQ_TQtLOp7rVp5s/s1600/101127_vy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGOtSpnv-r0HWDLWuP4li3iPCna35OtN16ZBeZvTfVUhhTu0zQ6s2dCHtpiKXvDFLt5eJJmfQijkCqtPSunWrO8Nd1_I2FxQnaXP0yITgUlUVN6bGb4Jx4TPwPnZToQ_TQtLOp7rVp5s/s1600/101127_vy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning on the second day. View towards Murchison Mountains. Magnificencent and so silent!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gL-HS0ZMRW1TS7sGh-EQYDzcuwRbicqlGMP4Hlm_g9k2uR0FerwBJFpdkDz9WvuQnW420552s11qUsVKEB0M2E0GoXF9ohEl4PpbOBZyqKicQNRbj9eUSkZ4iLvExbFJdGdRDqsK2tk/s1600/101127_vy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gL-HS0ZMRW1TS7sGh-EQYDzcuwRbicqlGMP4Hlm_g9k2uR0FerwBJFpdkDz9WvuQnW420552s11qUsVKEB0M2E0GoXF9ohEl4PpbOBZyqKicQNRbj9eUSkZ4iLvExbFJdGdRDqsK2tk/s1600/101127_vy3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The track between Forest Burn Saddle and Hanging Valley.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichR9UeXPzWNdk_BYKwJFNPWRmWsEL17di7fBjqcbhS72xz8SVKOYwdApyvZRa3rpnKy5JkZ2CMH92F5jkTiSb8AYNIr02yKdQuxYICnMLzW5fl1iqSup_PBpLZN_w38s6Ea7eudC9QEI/s1600/101127_Nicke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichR9UeXPzWNdk_BYKwJFNPWRmWsEL17di7fBjqcbhS72xz8SVKOYwdApyvZRa3rpnKy5JkZ2CMH92F5jkTiSb8AYNIr02yKdQuxYICnMLzW5fl1iqSup_PBpLZN_w38s6Ea7eudC9QEI/s1600/101127_Nicke.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cool birding trekker at Hanging Valley. (Photo by a Mexican girl;-)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5Lrp2doYgcbXkUbybxmNQ1Bg4tLHS-IE25pwWYh1FZsbYKXPCJLr-7BJm7ArHQ07dWTzVmJ3hZgIP_r3j8J2Gww5XbFyNWay-DlwzXm4F3CayhJg-1SdAahlkLBQIr65Kc5tOS4tF4Q/s1600/101127_Kea1jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5Lrp2doYgcbXkUbybxmNQ1Bg4tLHS-IE25pwWYh1FZsbYKXPCJLr-7BJm7ArHQ07dWTzVmJ3hZgIP_r3j8J2Gww5XbFyNWay-DlwzXm4F3CayhJg-1SdAahlkLBQIr65Kc5tOS4tF4Q/s1600/101127_Kea1jpg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of two lovely and playful Keas at the Hanging Valley shelter.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkk-Y23uWuUF6oVtrZO7Jw4OWRiLAZuDmdw72Tm0yL6De2zchreTR0rdPRUMENm5vMzmAqDyspNBsAFT-f-fEwVEBNI9qQ5C1kiju3SDC1nJpg4CXlUMro65JTJpYBkMN2z39HlKWRbE/s1600/101127_Kea2jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkk-Y23uWuUF6oVtrZO7Jw4OWRiLAZuDmdw72Tm0yL6De2zchreTR0rdPRUMENm5vMzmAqDyspNBsAFT-f-fEwVEBNI9qQ5C1kiju3SDC1nJpg4CXlUMro65JTJpYBkMN2z39HlKWRbE/s1600/101127_Kea2jpg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The Kea, New Zealand's cheeky mountain parrot is a bird with "attitude". Raucous and inquisitive, the bird is not afraid of humans and puts on colourful displays for visitors.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJIfsYUVuuvTyQIqm58Y73wBq8zUMYYaAerUJPJpfzLMncidQjc6TdNb9juIBYO2RGUCn1eyxlaiv7DYUoAiBDTD0QjbXb3AJYCaRLJMX8vgF2XGslcsamqNW5Jd20qujgGhNlH6qmTk/s1600/101127_vy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJIfsYUVuuvTyQIqm58Y73wBq8zUMYYaAerUJPJpfzLMncidQjc6TdNb9juIBYO2RGUCn1eyxlaiv7DYUoAiBDTD0QjbXb3AJYCaRLJMX8vgF2XGslcsamqNW5Jd20qujgGhNlH6qmTk/s1600/101127_vy1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View towards Kepler Mountains.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZL5eplp2X1DgfzwDKAiFaCOXqGOCttye4zhZyuefVSB0Fn_7gZgF42HIpe07xPijGgdIjPyE455WigTm43e1gN8SUBiTPGxAZaAj5ew3T8Beaoak3x3GxWR5FSLOY5o9v_D27l7z5zI/s1600/101128_forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZL5eplp2X1DgfzwDKAiFaCOXqGOCttye4zhZyuefVSB0Fn_7gZgF42HIpe07xPijGgdIjPyE455WigTm43e1gN8SUBiTPGxAZaAj5ew3T8Beaoak3x3GxWR5FSLOY5o9v_D27l7z5zI/s1600/101128_forest.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fabulous native beech forest downhill from Hanging Valley to Iris Burn hut. Dreamlike.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfegm868y6HMN_U9pETXiy1nQ2RXHI4o5wVZqyUaLz7gl7unrSDBktDP7uiMRhu9vwFvzBAXVznB1nqdr4_6TvdFXc3t5AzJZIeiFaLvU7hygTSx1qB6fXT5dTw21mfgrWocLEzAnKPrA/s1600/101127_stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfegm868y6HMN_U9pETXiy1nQ2RXHI4o5wVZqyUaLz7gl7unrSDBktDP7uiMRhu9vwFvzBAXVznB1nqdr4_6TvdFXc3t5AzJZIeiFaLvU7hygTSx1qB6fXT5dTw21mfgrWocLEzAnKPrA/s1600/101127_stream.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of many streams in the forest. Cold and refreshing water!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAQWQDg5YggagDUX2jp-yqGGEiWRYB8r7DPiwxKBE6A-5n9D0feIpQZfQoczkfY8hqQP0cAqvGoF04YXbYUYsvkIrUOAupicpjAKs9ckx8RHtR9ZaCUwopwHYt6ZEh4wgAQwztnaLopk/s1600/101127_IB_Hut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAQWQDg5YggagDUX2jp-yqGGEiWRYB8r7DPiwxKBE6A-5n9D0feIpQZfQoczkfY8hqQP0cAqvGoF04YXbYUYsvkIrUOAupicpjAKs9ckx8RHtR9ZaCUwopwHYt6ZEh4wgAQwztnaLopk/s1600/101127_IB_Hut.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Iris Burn hut embedded in a singing forest and the river almost in front. The original Rivendell?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3k-sRZGjAfU14r0i8ItqzhskVIrThkGLYwnNXqkAn1axkmPGiaqArH8GW3CpVdIx4t973OQAL1JyYjDH1bAHLYs4bHhalrWzAXdOZzmqA9gtDCxia7WM1oL7d4Q3p5kXEElamSw86-w/s1600/101128_waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3k-sRZGjAfU14r0i8ItqzhskVIrThkGLYwnNXqkAn1axkmPGiaqArH8GW3CpVdIx4t973OQAL1JyYjDH1bAHLYs4bHhalrWzAXdOZzmqA9gtDCxia7WM1oL7d4Q3p5kXEElamSw86-w/s1600/101128_waterfall.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The waterfall twenty minutes from the Iris Burn hut.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0lb7Vh3eQ3YwW1zQQBLV94fQAfrrpn9yqaCVRFDZENT995vXYu3A20IimWO9hhKX1mFFzniZZkKHHjQWU5-ZwFFGhF7q0njvVYyezK2q7UyIA_yyMNIKAvCSzRFOGfvAXMH4ZeOrKQU/s1600/101128_fantail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0lb7Vh3eQ3YwW1zQQBLV94fQAfrrpn9yqaCVRFDZENT995vXYu3A20IimWO9hhKX1mFFzniZZkKHHjQWU5-ZwFFGhF7q0njvVYyezK2q7UyIA_yyMNIKAvCSzRFOGfvAXMH4ZeOrKQU/s1600/101128_fantail.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely Fantail, but very difficult to photograph, which is true for the other forest birds too.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTPZXRnTrNfVcxBryJpG4ii2IBcf0GuG9t_rqp8_fWYMB5sWVw5GELB4_ztzdTF7hATCt6lteOpcyA_x-4V3S00oIa9TQ1WHQgxgw1mIDzSXNvhgSfRVB-555EO104ExwI2Oxq_0UNrE/s1600/101128_stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTPZXRnTrNfVcxBryJpG4ii2IBcf0GuG9t_rqp8_fWYMB5sWVw5GELB4_ztzdTF7hATCt6lteOpcyA_x-4V3S00oIa9TQ1WHQgxgw1mIDzSXNvhgSfRVB-555EO104ExwI2Oxq_0UNrE/s1600/101128_stream.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At noon on the third day. Happily one walked through the forest all day long on this very hot day with clearblue sky.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJLSO5aQQIcZs7IXehbD-avOUYdVKX-tI4d3sNQpktHFS8-c281iQNO6QRnykLeu4iWfCPYeQq2Y14xieYe4tvhIu7vDtJvMHWsDupG2towJbT2soB6Pru35bIZ3Uyk82jJKKNC2SSVc/s1600/101128_beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJLSO5aQQIcZs7IXehbD-avOUYdVKX-tI4d3sNQpktHFS8-c281iQNO6QRnykLeu4iWfCPYeQq2Y14xieYe4tvhIu7vDtJvMHWsDupG2towJbT2soB6Pru35bIZ3Uyk82jJKKNC2SSVc/s1600/101128_beans.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cooled off my feats in the stream while enjoying a can with baked beans and sausages.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5kt7tOKUInLwSGLj8vgNoBCQgsPXVkPe7g8TpHaOI5NVRh29reP30KqXpw62wUhTLLcfNgjjiNTQGja-faCWXJmiRZApSoAFzoKIwWWawTXXnWhHFH0Gx69nqRXJJ3JajFN6Jj1w_ww/s1600/101128_manapouri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5kt7tOKUInLwSGLj8vgNoBCQgsPXVkPe7g8TpHaOI5NVRh29reP30KqXpw62wUhTLLcfNgjjiNTQGja-faCWXJmiRZApSoAFzoKIwWWawTXXnWhHFH0Gx69nqRXJJ3JajFN6Jj1w_ww/s1600/101128_manapouri.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lake Manapouri, which originally is named by the Maoris as Moturau (Motu=islands and rau=many), the lake with many islands.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_9wUnpSIHxJmM7lkP20JyfCsT1J_Ozx71z9jXAiH-ALR4eYjGjPsHsi4DP9VXH0X1M5UXuRXdFj18ZtU7sB9s4PJnTeAwm7I81nhB4I3t4Ue1HGYhLLZe38zHfbjXxwLt6TytZ_P97Y/s1600/101129_dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_9wUnpSIHxJmM7lkP20JyfCsT1J_Ozx71z9jXAiH-ALR4eYjGjPsHsi4DP9VXH0X1M5UXuRXdFj18ZtU7sB9s4PJnTeAwm7I81nhB4I3t4Ue1HGYhLLZe38zHfbjXxwLt6TytZ_P97Y/s1600/101129_dawn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dawn at Moturau hut on the fourth day.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Vf2w6CsoaYHKyg0Efg2rH9-umBZeSiE-CxH1vrgv-DD-WDsNAry9Znjnl2FtwRrK4GgYI8FB7FNW85cZZlOKpdVon12BgmK4q4Z3NtL7b4JfnOsKDSvTbuN0XBDe893z7kK2iuYqy9M/s1600/101129_party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Vf2w6CsoaYHKyg0Efg2rH9-umBZeSiE-CxH1vrgv-DD-WDsNAry9Znjnl2FtwRrK4GgYI8FB7FNW85cZZlOKpdVon12BgmK4q4Z3NtL7b4JfnOsKDSvTbuN0XBDe893z7kK2iuYqy9M/s1600/101129_party.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From left: Ben and Serina from Australia and Richard and Carol from Tasmania. Richard are a keen birder too. We all meet up in the evening at every hut and departed in each morning throughout the whole walk.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2b_3ULkV-UHtGRHo4fENVbuMmUHlZCkhkg-5ov5sg5boQJynGrcQGWmunnEGn0VuF4yR1x7IeK161aT7uDUxKhLhS5VpMe5uZx0u2EVnvo6ver7WklwY4t7ZUjXkg__L27NM7DN17dKQ/s1600/101129_bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2b_3ULkV-UHtGRHo4fENVbuMmUHlZCkhkg-5ov5sg5boQJynGrcQGWmunnEGn0VuF4yR1x7IeK161aT7uDUxKhLhS5VpMe5uZx0u2EVnvo6ver7WklwY4t7ZUjXkg__L27NM7DN17dKQ/s1600/101129_bridge.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The swingbridge over Waiau river.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyK8YYWNUjB9SFBjQ9HJmnhj8DgUdwmZdv1HmhY2XcgzT5V0eB1yY9sQOu9H4C6LbxPmR9nb0npswN7Uv9oFWBQyi3D3KueBziuS5t43_8eXpuwNqThfecDlm3bnhmKeG7v_A7LmYI2PY/s1600/101129_river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyK8YYWNUjB9SFBjQ9HJmnhj8DgUdwmZdv1HmhY2XcgzT5V0eB1yY9sQOu9H4C6LbxPmR9nb0npswN7Uv9oFWBQyi3D3KueBziuS5t43_8eXpuwNqThfecDlm3bnhmKeG7v_A7LmYI2PY/s1600/101129_river.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Waiau river.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BRHey8_KN4pCtJoBRXmKjgP_HRhzDhCFPCMQLxJd6wzO395kWMBKG2sWrQmZavIbtqEltvqw0NpqWYV2ONHeQxkChawCMwkxJNG-E2Gvhu7fmzTlDA3Edr4eyQ87GN9z2WkKdmIhswQ/s1600/101129_dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BRHey8_KN4pCtJoBRXmKjgP_HRhzDhCFPCMQLxJd6wzO395kWMBKG2sWrQmZavIbtqEltvqw0NpqWYV2ONHeQxkChawCMwkxJNG-E2Gvhu7fmzTlDA3Edr4eyQ87GN9z2WkKdmIhswQ/s1600/101129_dinner.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a long shover I (and some Black-billed Gulls) enjoyed a tasty chicken burger in Te Anau. And a real latte of course!</span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-18319967035461927162010-11-25T23:05:00.000+13:002010-11-25T23:05:48.050+13:00From Otago in east to Fiordland in west - 25th<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had a a nice lie-in and got up at 8am. It was a light cloud-cover and almost windless. I were supposed to take the bus to Dunedin, but Kevin had a day off from his guiding work today and he always get to Dunedin for business things and meeting friends. He insisted to show me the southern part of the peninsula in general and the Sandfly Bay in particular and the drive me to the bus station in Dunedin. The road along the ridge of the peninsula offered great views and we soon reached Sandfly Bay, which mainly is known as a resting place for New Zealand Sea Lions, and of course shifting sand. There were six Sea Lions on the beach, of which two were huge males. Pat one of these on the cheek were certainly not the first that crossed my mind, but they were majestetic indeed. We also saw tracks of several Yellow-eyed Penguins in the sand. Kevin and I had a good time together and he finally dropped me at the bus station in Dunedin. Unfortunately, I didn´t have time to visit the museum, but one can't do everything, but enjouy the moments that occur.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bus-ride from Dunedin to Te Anau in the western part took 4 1/5 hours and offered a great scenary. Te Anau and Lake Te Anau with all the surrounding mountain ridges were just breathtaking and beautiful in a dramatic way. One just have to sit down on the shore and try to absorb it. I did some shopping for my 4-day tramping on Kepler track that I start tomorrow morning. I have re-packed and stored half of my things at the accommodation place. So, now I am ready to do one of the great walks!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJytZqdTFy1Jex5KMNMGwIWKel08i1ewYNLT_Kj_nq3EsKwLZfWK64PLyERuZzyqn1QJXfvQj0IZlL9G-lsURbRDvUORKVSSojtoPg8R2nHgmpSULhqajGayEtiRQzn1sPEj38iFEbRI/s1600/101125_Bellbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJytZqdTFy1Jex5KMNMGwIWKel08i1ewYNLT_Kj_nq3EsKwLZfWK64PLyERuZzyqn1QJXfvQj0IZlL9G-lsURbRDvUORKVSSojtoPg8R2nHgmpSULhqajGayEtiRQzn1sPEj38iFEbRI/s1600/101125_Bellbird.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A Bellbird on Flax, while I enjoyed my breakfast. Its flute-like song reminds much of the European Golden Oriole, but even more lovely. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamOKJtt5YvcfMpIPhbHiGLY-BXDaONStJej-3sgGPg1QgVWeMA1aMf8gzGrrEGsmgazyLpT2cT_iBg654rmv6gUvqz-Vgz8om-M_3RfJHlsMuV8QwWoD9hG6dz_W-3-ZQnV7djAkUIc0/s1600/101125_vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamOKJtt5YvcfMpIPhbHiGLY-BXDaONStJej-3sgGPg1QgVWeMA1aMf8gzGrrEGsmgazyLpT2cT_iBg654rmv6gUvqz-Vgz8om-M_3RfJHlsMuV8QwWoD9hG6dz_W-3-ZQnV7djAkUIc0/s1600/101125_vy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nice view of the southern part of the Otago peninsula.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0rMgYhwdYTMP8z-3nqC_yi4W6KCDoHPPcNoVhzmPfUYw53-dvlhNS8CHMQhCcInZDP5HzQiVhwX1OY-YsEtaB5i-pv57-9nRfa_FPodqlHn4WghSIuZh7KY0xRUqsGnYW7vnh00L1kk/s1600/101125_Kevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0rMgYhwdYTMP8z-3nqC_yi4W6KCDoHPPcNoVhzmPfUYw53-dvlhNS8CHMQhCcInZDP5HzQiVhwX1OY-YsEtaB5i-pv57-9nRfa_FPodqlHn4WghSIuZh7KY0xRUqsGnYW7vnh00L1kk/s1600/101125_Kevin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kevin at Sandfly Bay. He work as a guide within the penguin reserve.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZXHoTEwreli8u6QWenKRwmUwsa6-Yu7eywwT4fgZZAHJQRREMCqIfK20Sn-tSqM5e6gb2Hnw2uyIrpDmy1dkvE3ppvU67-fPKSddZeu-oWcgOSthDSto7LElDLC8AsM-lApIp9QJNtw/s1600/101125_Sealion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZXHoTEwreli8u6QWenKRwmUwsa6-Yu7eywwT4fgZZAHJQRREMCqIfK20Sn-tSqM5e6gb2Hnw2uyIrpDmy1dkvE3ppvU67-fPKSddZeu-oWcgOSthDSto7LElDLC8AsM-lApIp9QJNtw/s1600/101125_Sealion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An imposing New Zealand Sea Lion at Sandfly Bay.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcp7LM-n7pmsp0MtpyJVmwztar7ATMsLBmKlhLaTnkdad3LOEPwslWNp4-1jCjMBUl_EkqBqFo6O9bTLNsFz4ARVhNLJVgP1TU7GnzWWxttSDIg8jcdXwtH1a-WXxGfXudxWe0NvD2JM/s1600/101125_Oyster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcp7LM-n7pmsp0MtpyJVmwztar7ATMsLBmKlhLaTnkdad3LOEPwslWNp4-1jCjMBUl_EkqBqFo6O9bTLNsFz4ARVhNLJVgP1TU7GnzWWxttSDIg8jcdXwtH1a-WXxGfXudxWe0NvD2JM/s1600/101125_Oyster.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A beautiful black morph of Variable Oystercatcher.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2UAaPYXx9rXm0pd6Q2NqZUXHiMs1bqvNkwvhIbRoCEfzd8pzHXK71V_GoS6pI9ggrLp9CtOxNmDayq_XvxYK8O8nON23de_HVSv9ljelLtRoinJxw8WIIZ2HDtrX-rbzcNLKL3Opp2Q/s1600/101125_Black-billed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2UAaPYXx9rXm0pd6Q2NqZUXHiMs1bqvNkwvhIbRoCEfzd8pzHXK71V_GoS6pI9ggrLp9CtOxNmDayq_XvxYK8O8nON23de_HVSv9ljelLtRoinJxw8WIIZ2HDtrX-rbzcNLKL3Opp2Q/s1600/101125_Black-billed.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After thousands of Red-billed Gulls along the coast it was nice to see hundreds of Black-billed Gulls for a change, during the travel inland and at Lake Te Anau.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4kRzFUCyBDmHLC8GbTEZbz6m2kb8bE5KnYbQv1BrDsU3AHTrq9LwFDU0gxub4AFmsWzK8j33x_SksQg3RRkPb_QlZA6lvQX-NQKNC3wj9HpsyPuuNruzPzC_8pIwxsymzi0liiyEAR4/s1600/101125_Te_Anau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4kRzFUCyBDmHLC8GbTEZbz6m2kb8bE5KnYbQv1BrDsU3AHTrq9LwFDU0gxub4AFmsWzK8j33x_SksQg3RRkPb_QlZA6lvQX-NQKNC3wj9HpsyPuuNruzPzC_8pIwxsymzi0liiyEAR4/s1600/101125_Te_Anau.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View at Lake Te Anau towards north in the evening!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-54534280072919381122010-11-25T12:38:00.001+13:002010-11-25T12:39:08.776+13:00Shags and albatrosses at Otago peninsula – 24th<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Woke up and discovered a clear blue sky. Had an easy breakfast on the veranda in company of one Tui and a couple of flute-like singing Bellbirds. Indeed a happy start on the day. I had a nice walk along the windy road to Taiaroa Head, the very tip of the Otago peninsula, where the Royal Albatross Colony is located. I had booked a guided tour at 2pm, so I had four hours for seawatching from shore. Within half an hour I had spotted one Northern Royal Albatross and one White-capped Albatross, two Cape Petrels and numerous Sooty Shearwaters as well as the first Stewart Island Shags. Now I have recorded a total of 8 shag species! After an hour or so I recognized a fishing vessel heading towards Taiaroa Head and the inlet. The boat were followed by many seabirds: White-capped Albatross (25), Salvin's Albatross (5), Giant Petrel (7), Cape Petrel (50), Sooty Shearwaters (10) and 20 unidentified all-dark shearwaters (probably Westland or White-chinned). In addition I saw about 30 Hutton's Shearwaters foraging offshore.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The guided albatross tour were OK, but not that exciting. We saw five birds on nest from the Richdale Observatory and two birds flew by. Rest of the afternoon I just took it easy at the lodge and had a nice talk with Kevin, one of the guides at the penguin reserve. The place is really relaxing with no Internet connections at all. Time for contemplation.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i76yZQxORgZrJwEnzDPMhDATCvWbCNdZhWlJnkwg1kK86bg8xHMkWiRmB5-uJyyGwJChZPOf0O06sG2-ZyLWrO0bNyq4A8G94gsHxWx6_vX1CvQp2DiVgk9k4mqAsKgsjTsljAAGhbo/s1600/101124_vy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i76yZQxORgZrJwEnzDPMhDATCvWbCNdZhWlJnkwg1kK86bg8xHMkWiRmB5-uJyyGwJChZPOf0O06sG2-ZyLWrO0bNyq4A8G94gsHxWx6_vX1CvQp2DiVgk9k4mqAsKgsjTsljAAGhbo/s1600/101124_vy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Taiaroa Head, the very tip of the Otago Peninsula, which is the only mainland breeding site for albatrosses (e.g. Northern Royal Albatross).</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlEoneuFT0lvgtedCA3Qee4qlhESQEOEXpUiohx0XsHow-qiXexRUlWvdqryttkfyWF_porqP-iRw22a-Ia8GHkqrYffcWywkbnCit-iu4mQ_8riAxy68ojutnHanS9gtq6-mdnHU7U/s1600/101124_Little.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlEoneuFT0lvgtedCA3Qee4qlhESQEOEXpUiohx0XsHow-qiXexRUlWvdqryttkfyWF_porqP-iRw22a-Ia8GHkqrYffcWywkbnCit-iu4mQ_8riAxy68ojutnHanS9gtq6-mdnHU7U/s1600/101124_Little.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Adult Little Shag.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqi6qNOUnRKbbvPLnyJ6CTqWQkBDWM4wsuyrdTmlhailgm1mNDJLWfvcoWkYYCYxZjEy7_EH-auytX_wd4UEpyn27SZzIksq-mX6uaED8OjUCQbTeuc9mHs5zdmjmC8OAXTg-PIbaAAU/s1600/101124_Spotted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqi6qNOUnRKbbvPLnyJ6CTqWQkBDWM4wsuyrdTmlhailgm1mNDJLWfvcoWkYYCYxZjEy7_EH-auytX_wd4UEpyn27SZzIksq-mX6uaED8OjUCQbTeuc9mHs5zdmjmC8OAXTg-PIbaAAU/s1600/101124_Spotted.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A beautiful adult Spotted Shag, which breeds at Taiaroa Head.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fnoKelcJ_4COKpKUZsf-GuTkofe8Dezj57i_TfZYT9DWU-VET5s38mlPFlgib963ykmho9wz7X9kwazp4Uq9ak82OZZgK8u6eCUqxhc80FVPwry5q1K07P5hJvdxlZVq5mBaKqhkyNc/s1600/101124_Stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fnoKelcJ_4COKpKUZsf-GuTkofe8Dezj57i_TfZYT9DWU-VET5s38mlPFlgib963ykmho9wz7X9kwazp4Uq9ak82OZZgK8u6eCUqxhc80FVPwry5q1K07P5hJvdxlZVq5mBaKqhkyNc/s1600/101124_Stewart.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A colony of Stewart Island Shags, which breeds of the most exposed slope of Taiaroa Head. Both forms (all dark and pied) is depicted in the photo, as well as quite big chicks.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMG-bHw-93WFlySm4yLblto0049JxfWFstKr8nTEw426r94totlOyF4Ak6d6JCeRwPJ6jh-kQrQzOsRyiFla1AMeg3J5UYigWyZT426hDvS_uuMnLjm6wxovzME-1GYHZ0IE3dLLRIws/s1600/101124_albatross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMG-bHw-93WFlySm4yLblto0049JxfWFstKr8nTEw426r94totlOyF4Ak6d6JCeRwPJ6jh-kQrQzOsRyiFla1AMeg3J5UYigWyZT426hDvS_uuMnLjm6wxovzME-1GYHZ0IE3dLLRIws/s1600/101124_albatross.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the nesting Northern Royal Albatrosses seen from the observatory. In all 16 pairs have started the incubation and it will take about 80 days before the chick hatch.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43mmwTpcEpW-r5_9nacL8cu-DdGtoKryoxziYAG8g9F2X7ELeehS-1qeno5RMDfpp0vOrfBkhF-etoz1S50OOCa2CKqMl8kqx6ZuEObOWOH-Vlq1BPNjRw5bdi4uMFVqnGVxLZ35j1sg/s1600/101124_vy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43mmwTpcEpW-r5_9nacL8cu-DdGtoKryoxziYAG8g9F2X7ELeehS-1qeno5RMDfpp0vOrfBkhF-etoz1S50OOCa2CKqMl8kqx6ZuEObOWOH-Vlq1BPNjRw5bdi4uMFVqnGVxLZ35j1sg/s1600/101124_vy2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View towards Otago Harbour and Dunedin from </span><span style="font-size: small;">Richdale Observatory at</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Taiaroa Head.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-45675233067915136722010-11-25T11:56:00.000+13:002010-11-25T11:56:18.983+13:00A day of penguins at Otago peninsula – 23rd<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I woke up early and had a quick breakfast with Colin. He then drove me to the bus stop as I wanted to catch the morning bus to Harington Point, which is located at the tip of the Otago Peninsula. The bus driver dropped me at the Penguin Place and I checked in at their lodge for two nights. The lodge were located at the top a hill and its veranda facing the inlet. Amazing view while Bellbirds singing in the surrounding forest. I accommodate myself and the took a long walk along the shore to Portobello. It was low-tide and hundreds of hundreds of Red-billed Gulls as well as Variable Oystercatchers, Black-backed Gulls, three Royal Spoonbills, Little and Spotted Shags.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Back to the lodge a made a simple pasta dinner, enough for two days. Took a power nap before I joined a tour within the penguin reserve. The reserve has been managed by the McGrouther's family since 1985. They has replanted the penguins breeding grounds, built nesting sites, cared for sick and injured birds and trapped predators. Daniel were my and to more participants guide for the one hour tour. We saw a young Yellow-eyed Penguin, which had been present on the cliffs for two days. During our tour an adult Yellow-eyed Penguin landed on the beach and we could study the bird from a nearby hide. Finally we visited a shady nest with one parent and two three-week old chicks. It were a great experience to see these strange, but beautiful birds. Afterwards I had soft selfmade latte on the lodge veranda and enjoyed several Silvereyes and a couple of Bellbirds.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In the evening I took a five kilometres walk to Pilot Beach close to the Royal Albatross Colony at the very tip of the peninsula, to watch little Blue Penguins arriving to their breeding grounds after sunset. Just behind the roped-off viewing area there were two burrows with penguins visible. 10-15 minutes after sunset one could see rafts of 10-20 penguins coming to shore, but slowly and careful. It was to see them to land on the beach just below the audience. And soon their calls sounded through the night. During my walk back to the lodge I saw several rafts of Blue Penguins swimming in to shore and heard some tramping in the bush. What a joyful day!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Es0k63-o2UJsP0oXqqqpuWYEjxqRTDZezAM4MuS1af7hN_p71H-TkZFv5jazNqbetyURqwQlVrx2Fc90M3N5wvBr0qPtDpuq-O5v-pP5-37sq6OKllkYlm8LYCAnK59aWGMNnHyEM1s/s1600/101123_Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Es0k63-o2UJsP0oXqqqpuWYEjxqRTDZezAM4MuS1af7hN_p71H-TkZFv5jazNqbetyURqwQlVrx2Fc90M3N5wvBr0qPtDpuq-O5v-pP5-37sq6OKllkYlm8LYCAnK59aWGMNnHyEM1s/s1600/101123_Sign.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The Penguin Place is located almost at the tip of the Otago peninsula. The place has been a conservation reserve for the Yellow-eyed Penguin since 1985.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkuiAfjbRzjJtFxf9uTaHiDlJLDhgCI_utExcilkJaQbL1x5GFl5huCigAe3Z_Fe-k92nXrh7Z8_r1fe0iMrouKKXO9cbkJIMsKftdIc5p991cUgaxgXHKpovjn54kQNbVs5uLtMzqG0/s1600/101123_vyjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkuiAfjbRzjJtFxf9uTaHiDlJLDhgCI_utExcilkJaQbL1x5GFl5huCigAe3Z_Fe-k92nXrh7Z8_r1fe0iMrouKKXO9cbkJIMsKftdIc5p991cUgaxgXHKpovjn54kQNbVs5uLtMzqG0/s1600/101123_vyjpg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View from the veranda at Penguin Lodge where I stayed for two nights.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhj7tFIPabneDnBEgO-McoKSD0nPBVeV7JBAtUPms4QIQrlhW9EjsVSArDRAec_oDqaYO6i_Zl8-RM2w74uonYiVW2XoAeBp1PlYdrOau0FmJt2e4VT_Ob77C0VfkodMi5PvOScv9FCI/s1600/101123_yellow_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhj7tFIPabneDnBEgO-McoKSD0nPBVeV7JBAtUPms4QIQrlhW9EjsVSArDRAec_oDqaYO6i_Zl8-RM2w74uonYiVW2XoAeBp1PlYdrOau0FmJt2e4VT_Ob77C0VfkodMi5PvOScv9FCI/s1600/101123_yellow_beach.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The beach where the Yellow-eyed Penguins land during afternoon and evening. Unlike other penguins it breeds solitary and have clear territories and don’t use burrows.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43j9D4wLpjOJXFJzMUUPO__BQKkRqUd2dbM3ppIA7Aa_-wTyS2vOg4MXuotF0Q7kAwFag5Agkq9qczlVdRdGjLBO5ythHajwcAEd9-kP_apW8JwtJ-c8PF_GV8hQR0Dmglg4MLERtLkg/s1600/101123_yellow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43j9D4wLpjOJXFJzMUUPO__BQKkRqUd2dbM3ppIA7Aa_-wTyS2vOg4MXuotF0Q7kAwFag5Agkq9qczlVdRdGjLBO5ythHajwcAEd9-kP_apW8JwtJ-c8PF_GV8hQR0Dmglg4MLERtLkg/s1600/101123_yellow1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">An immature Yellow-eyed Penguin. They receive adult plumage after their first moult.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKy16dbivJNrDwvJvIxW9hrrpiLex42s_Lbg45G4UMSZt9aaAJ_wk3an9KlzSpbvDs42Cd38-TlVDu5N1_jLI94Pi55TsnIKbAXPldHkZVEpuhquq_zW60LO2nQwsFYuZXzZmEWMVv_w/s1600/101123_yellow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKy16dbivJNrDwvJvIxW9hrrpiLex42s_Lbg45G4UMSZt9aaAJ_wk3an9KlzSpbvDs42Cd38-TlVDu5N1_jLI94Pi55TsnIKbAXPldHkZVEpuhquq_zW60LO2nQwsFYuZXzZmEWMVv_w/s1600/101123_yellow2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">An adult Yellow-eyed Penguin that just have land at the beach. It is 70 cm tall and weighs over 5 kg.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNYsC863HXqQJs2BPJ3rED8v-zTyovYErofiG2ItrHj0nsmkErbaIYbHkgq3Vpt6ouvPzrDPpWP7nyUlwDsukZUTSAebMmX6qNhwqm9GJ1weafCdOPMHtrELQnEgF4IIazmkWna9DeYg/s1600/101123_Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNYsC863HXqQJs2BPJ3rED8v-zTyovYErofiG2ItrHj0nsmkErbaIYbHkgq3Vpt6ouvPzrDPpWP7nyUlwDsukZUTSAebMmX6qNhwqm9GJ1weafCdOPMHtrELQnEgF4IIazmkWna9DeYg/s1600/101123_Blue.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Adult Blue Penguin and chick in its burrow at Pilot Beach, where a great colony is to be found.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3mgFTsP5KiMHjgz0WeLhOOCdqL4Jx-szQqn1tplYJBKefLXWrr6HbXSN43Mt8Zs_mYNusgiXM8uestXbS9HSqOQ0_uvPG4MUrdPwzrJr00yE8eP7S18rn3BstVoGW98h0j1TCjNLfqA/s1600/101123_sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3mgFTsP5KiMHjgz0WeLhOOCdqL4Jx-szQqn1tplYJBKefLXWrr6HbXSN43Mt8Zs_mYNusgiXM8uestXbS9HSqOQ0_uvPG4MUrdPwzrJr00yE8eP7S18rn3BstVoGW98h0j1TCjNLfqA/s1600/101123_sunset.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset at Pilot Beach while awaiting the Blue Penguins, which usually arrive some 10-15 minutes after sunset.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYrjTq3rtlpKhOf8-6vlluZRw0aaHpeTvnZJY2EfTOeP9c8aPCJ1YRylddN0EbVOpjtR8rEaQUgn203H_IndBhU8_kn8DK9AH1VG_4PxlruyZOLLwAh0Xlxifx-ffbb1QihiwfvmACks/s1600/101123_Blue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYrjTq3rtlpKhOf8-6vlluZRw0aaHpeTvnZJY2EfTOeP9c8aPCJ1YRylddN0EbVOpjtR8rEaQUgn203H_IndBhU8_kn8DK9AH1VG_4PxlruyZOLLwAh0Xlxifx-ffbb1QihiwfvmACks/s1600/101123_Blue2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A blurry picture of a group of Blue Penguins that just have landed on the beach. Flashes or torches is of course not allowed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-64660646809594466882010-11-25T11:10:00.001+13:002010-11-25T11:11:37.809+13:00Lincoln – Lake Ellesmere – Oamaru – Dunedin – 22nd<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Had a breakfast at Colins place. Took farewell of the cats and we headed to Colins office at Landcare Research in Lincoln. He had to do some preparations for the 9 week long stay on Campbell Islands, of which he will be leading. You can follow their research and monitoring work on <a href="http://www.campbellisland.org.nz/">www.campbellisland.org.nz</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Later in the morning we drove to Lake Ellesmere, a huge brackish lake just south of Christchurch. We had an appointment with the local birder Colin Hill and drove to his farm with its beautiful rose garden. We changed to gumboots and placed ourselves in Colins 4WD jeep. If one visit Lake Ellesmere for the first time I think its wise to use a guide that know the area and where to find shorebirds, depending on winds and water-levels. Lake Ellesmere is a huge area, which is impossible to cover within a single day. However, we did a good work and saw Pectoral Sandpiper (4), Curlew Sandpiper (2), Red Knot (15), Pacific Golden Plover (7), Wrybill (1), Turnstone (5), Bar-tailed Godwit (100), Banded Dotterel (20), Black-billed Gull (1) and Caspian Tern (7). Add to this hundreds of Pied Stilts, Red-billed Gulls, Black Swans, Grey Teals and Australian Shovelers and many more. After three hours nice birdning we said good bye to Colin, a kind and helpful guy. We drove back to Colins office as he had to do some paperwork before headed southwards to Oamaru. We left Lincoln at five and did a few stops now and then and about ten Black-fronted Terns at Waitaki River were the most exciting bird sighting along the road. Well in Oamaru we drove to Bushey Beach where the rare Yellow-eyed Penguin breed with a few pairs. We were a bit late and had already missed five penguins. However, we were lucky as a late struggler landed on the beach. What a lovely sighting! We stayed for half an hour more, but no more Yellow-eyed Penguins. We then drove to a Blue Penguin colony for a short visit. We saw one at close range and heard several more. Time was 9:30pm and we decided to drive to Dunedin, instead of staying overnight in Oamaru. In Dunedin we stayed in a nice flat, which Colin had lent from a friend.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH_GsQw9z5wy9NYY1bm-RClzGwGdy9AA-a78aPd2zzqYiqJCcx9WAkZNVsLqDB6c2ZgxENwS4T6mK8jIaYoRZ4lzOQ4YvaWjAxuqQ3uRc2EHWKi8QqBbuLGLldk8B53hcPxv-tYTEmVM/s1600/101122_Colin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH_GsQw9z5wy9NYY1bm-RClzGwGdy9AA-a78aPd2zzqYiqJCcx9WAkZNVsLqDB6c2ZgxENwS4T6mK8jIaYoRZ4lzOQ4YvaWjAxuqQ3uRc2EHWKi8QqBbuLGLldk8B53hcPxv-tYTEmVM/s640/101122_Colin.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr Colin Meurk in his office at Landcare Research in Lincoln. He soon going to Campbell Islands for nine weeks monitoring work.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6p7watP55NBDh08hXOMt7fCGY0aKnPwK2X-sONAbsrfoYdOD0CBKgTMdVZ-VIvGwMYefdX8Hhre_5kZB0rdXfB3af3tnG7vZJA-EcTl46yURL6v5R8QtnUPsMbVRztZ8_2HssLYfCv0/s1600/101122_Ellesmere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6p7watP55NBDh08hXOMt7fCGY0aKnPwK2X-sONAbsrfoYdOD0CBKgTMdVZ-VIvGwMYefdX8Hhre_5kZB0rdXfB3af3tnG7vZJA-EcTl46yURL6v5R8QtnUPsMbVRztZ8_2HssLYfCv0/s1600/101122_Ellesmere.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Only a part of Lake Ellesmere. A huge area to cover, so one need a knowledgeable man to find the birds and Colin Hill is the man.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPldWipogmuI87h2ozT-c81s_zqwCow6CKaNP9zSrXdUGccnXyjwqVk5cB0VkLXlU99dVYslkH7Iz6DCoJ_8KL8PwvbGU673sKvNQm90CNRH9hLknL0jx1dSC6NRE20s_hgZoChQTc0M/s1600/101122_2xColin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPldWipogmuI87h2ozT-c81s_zqwCow6CKaNP9zSrXdUGccnXyjwqVk5cB0VkLXlU99dVYslkH7Iz6DCoJ_8KL8PwvbGU673sKvNQm90CNRH9hLknL0jx1dSC6NRE20s_hgZoChQTc0M/s1600/101122_2xColin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Double Colin. From left: Colin Hill and Colin Meurk at Lake Ellesmere.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmCAPki_z75nby1rHR15-2E6fLDeLRBPtin00ezVad5alceXp8qYAHa00LRt8u5Jr_0JgWGU1j3wVnLHwLmLwxbd8yLLIK9JPo1S_xvDbzf39Z1MIUhck7XFCafbkfN-OUc7yt8X5n1Y/s1600/101122_Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmCAPki_z75nby1rHR15-2E6fLDeLRBPtin00ezVad5alceXp8qYAHa00LRt8u5Jr_0JgWGU1j3wVnLHwLmLwxbd8yLLIK9JPo1S_xvDbzf39Z1MIUhck7XFCafbkfN-OUc7yt8X5n1Y/s1600/101122_Sign.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Sign in Oamaru (known as the Penguin Town). Bushey Beach is the place where Yellow-eyed Penguin breed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNBl78SLtZeS7y2YetEej5NTjare6X-WpuvosQx5y68XMjcG7pY5BZfNIFPBWM6MyXgVKe5jMtD3iHBPNg-kzWXpRoJfCLlIb1VL3r0E7XWTYHRJlosUOozxFmIJ_uInrg7GykKTng70/s1600/101122_Bushey_Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNBl78SLtZeS7y2YetEej5NTjare6X-WpuvosQx5y68XMjcG7pY5BZfNIFPBWM6MyXgVKe5jMtD3iHBPNg-kzWXpRoJfCLlIb1VL3r0E7XWTYHRJlosUOozxFmIJ_uInrg7GykKTng70/s1600/101122_Bushey_Beach.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Bushey Beach at dusk. We saw a single Yellow-eyed Penguin, even though we were a bit late.</span></td></tr>
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</div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-29440480115090041962010-11-22T15:17:00.001+13:002010-11-23T13:35:25.206+13:00Kaikoura to Christchurch - 21stWoke up at 7am. It had stopped raining and I had a nice breakfast on Lazy Shags veranda. Took a walk a long the beach to Kaikoura point. Hundreds of Hutton's Shearwaters were foraging off shore, saw several distant albatrosses, a few Giant Petrels vloser to shore and at least five differant scholls of Dusky Dolphins, of which one contained about 100 dolphins and they played and breached for about half an hour. A joyful sight indeed. Along the shore were Little, Spotted and Pied Shags, Variable Oystercatchers and White-faced Herons.<br />
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At 12:30 I boarded the bus to Christchurch. The bus-ride took about three hours and Colin Meurk were there to meet me. We went to Riccarton Bush in centre on Christchurch and saw Grey Gerygone, Tomtit and Tui. Next stop were Travis Wetland were we saw several Grey Teals, New Zealand Scaups and the more usual birds sucha as Paradise Shelduck, Spur-winged Plover, Australian Shoveler, Pied Stilt and so on. We went to a few more laggons in the area a couple of hundred of New Zealand Scaup, a pair of Australian Coots, many Grey Teals, hundreds of Oystercatcthers and 50 Bar-tailed Godwits. When the sun was about to set we drove to a ice-hockey rink were Colin's daughter Christine were to play a ice-hockey match. Kind of strange, going to NZ and watch a hockey match, which ended 4-4. Finally, we got to Colin's house in late evening and in the little house were I gonna stay for the night were two beautiful cats, one Korat and one Russian Blue. Nice, as a miss my own two cats. Skeffy the Korat, were a darling indeed and he slept under the quilt with me. I slept well all night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiU75lY-8ciJZAAcxYdZSPL4yLPfSrPvYtgCFJHUfY69Fk5wsdbixVhAtI1hnAImhrx_Y1P4uW5TlVGaoCJdzwdDlRazG-2-XZUWBujupAJN-mI9lZz1JfDj6i46QYTXQITm5O4kPPXXM/s1600/101121_Shags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiU75lY-8ciJZAAcxYdZSPL4yLPfSrPvYtgCFJHUfY69Fk5wsdbixVhAtI1hnAImhrx_Y1P4uW5TlVGaoCJdzwdDlRazG-2-XZUWBujupAJN-mI9lZz1JfDj6i46QYTXQITm5O4kPPXXM/s1600/101121_Shags.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">A beautiful Pied Shag at Kaikoura.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyH500FXTq-JBjrlyMdl-4N3-tQLet8We3T1Sw4TpafnOPTBiUT2JPPi0VXrX4XvCyfiy519bwLplQzi3gotVque8QmidusIxECexzgT7dxDEarAZ8Cd1lHMIrMXsknQ8_kkBoXAg6B4/s1600/101121_Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyH500FXTq-JBjrlyMdl-4N3-tQLet8We3T1Sw4TpafnOPTBiUT2JPPi0VXrX4XvCyfiy519bwLplQzi3gotVque8QmidusIxECexzgT7dxDEarAZ8Cd1lHMIrMXsknQ8_kkBoXAg6B4/s1600/101121_Seal.jpg" /></span></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">A NZ Fur Seal at Kaikoura, where several colonies is to be found.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsmTeHJYgS5h_THI8sYW8qj3Z_ovKdyvkpOxVQjwwUx_MlhJMX3OrUyj12tIfs2q5UWmJ_lzeGokQILGhJynHdD0u2MzYcu7QZ1diLKICE87y7DaKXzLXbQ4JIWm9etS3Dj8zguu0L1g/s1600/101121_Shelduck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsmTeHJYgS5h_THI8sYW8qj3Z_ovKdyvkpOxVQjwwUx_MlhJMX3OrUyj12tIfs2q5UWmJ_lzeGokQILGhJynHdD0u2MzYcu7QZ1diLKICE87y7DaKXzLXbQ4JIWm9etS3Dj8zguu0L1g/s1600/101121_Shelduck.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">A pair of the endemic Paradise Shelduck, male (left) and female, at Travis Wetland.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscKuA75fbF9WAGuUelMlZnwat98Xmi5FjN2s7swWsoTmXiczSREJ_pDiKg2kBk9UqUNBFk0CceB-meR-OYoUals_Njq8Ne2nufNZknAe1Uzz3AcUKQci4vhgdj0ui0awGNZwRQvHe5jE/s1600/101121_Ishockey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscKuA75fbF9WAGuUelMlZnwat98Xmi5FjN2s7swWsoTmXiczSREJ_pDiKg2kBk9UqUNBFk0CceB-meR-OYoUals_Njq8Ne2nufNZknAe1Uzz3AcUKQci4vhgdj0ui0awGNZwRQvHe5jE/s1600/101121_Ishockey.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ice-hockey match in Christchurch. Quite an experience.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBbSoCgTf7q60SmUojNUpIYPz_0Q13bdnCa5T-3Q9Zr1Et0m26p3TQRrAG4FlDDUGNO62PQI1GUsAFdH6VYAAfj1u41_1LL4r-KfR0ZYzQqd7wAWQL4AicIhyphenhyphena1W4guIW8EXpqgfK9yI/s1600/101121_Korat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBbSoCgTf7q60SmUojNUpIYPz_0Q13bdnCa5T-3Q9Zr1Et0m26p3TQRrAG4FlDDUGNO62PQI1GUsAFdH6VYAAfj1u41_1LL4r-KfR0ZYzQqd7wAWQL4AicIhyphenhyphena1W4guIW8EXpqgfK9yI/s1600/101121_Korat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beautiful darling Korat cat Skeffy (actually taken in morning the day after).</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="left"></div>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-2519055887072243622010-11-20T21:34:00.002+13:002010-11-20T21:40:41.975+13:00A second great pelagic tour off Kaikoura - 20th<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Woke up at 7am and had a pleasant breakfast in the garden. I did make an appeal to the Gods of Albatrosses that the two other presumed partcipants would show up for the 9am pelagic, though they hadn't confirmed it yesterday. I had a walk to Encounters office and had a latte while waiting for information whether it's gonna be a pelagic tour or not. Ten to nine I saw the skipper Gary Melville parking the van in front of the office and he soon told me that the two other had show up. What a great relief! And the funny thing was that the two guys, Leif-Åke and Christer, were from Sweden (Söder in Stockholm). They had travelled for five weeks and had also visited Cook Islands. Leif-Åke work as a journalist (with focus on travelling) on the newspaper Aftonbladet, which is the largest one in Sweden. They were a great and happy company. The weather was perfect, yes, even better than yesterday, as it were more windy. Knownledgeable skipper Gary took another route this morning and also stopped by at a few fishing boats that attracted seabirds. The species and numbers were pretty much the same as yesterday: Northern Royal Albatross (2), Wandering Albatross (7), White-capped Albatross (2), Salvin's Albatross (6), Northern Giant Petrel (17), Westland Petrel (25), Cape Petrel (60), Southern Cape Petrel (1), Hutton's Shearwater (200), Buller's Shearwater (1), Red-billed Gull (10), Black-backed (Kelp) Gull (10) and Little Penguin (2). But, the seabirds were more airborne this windy morning and kept sweeping around our boat all the time. It was indeed an heavenly spectacle to see all these magnificent albatrosses be in their's element. Back to the harbour the three of us were quite mentally exhausted, in a positive meaning. We had a nice latte and espresso at Encounters café before we split up. It started to rain and Gary were kind and drove me to my accommodation at the Lazy Shag.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbdc2lFIaf-OybQIy2I8vOW5Lg7Ugny1T9RqHkGt9ShzvnAFZkVgEPqKspYCncKDspJW5x_SW2UdBVh7YlhNJyUBRzobx-B-uIZsjyHjl-gkGGf48MMnFzf_D99eQ9xf4WBs8cM87gbg/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_berg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbdc2lFIaf-OybQIy2I8vOW5Lg7Ugny1T9RqHkGt9ShzvnAFZkVgEPqKspYCncKDspJW5x_SW2UdBVh7YlhNJyUBRzobx-B-uIZsjyHjl-gkGGf48MMnFzf_D99eQ9xf4WBs8cM87gbg/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_berg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wandering Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FsHukS-JnB9GDUsIxNUsricXYJYawFRQTpZoTsUa2bO1YAD8uxlUYwJVSPlK3xND_MTH-wOYtKnaJ_Yn20usIvYdBhkKm_75mfqLQwYWjQuuv1V-WqRw-vBy7Dxz1z3PIj8ys97Cb-A/s1600/101120_Royal_flight_under.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FsHukS-JnB9GDUsIxNUsricXYJYawFRQTpZoTsUa2bO1YAD8uxlUYwJVSPlK3xND_MTH-wOYtKnaJ_Yn20usIvYdBhkKm_75mfqLQwYWjQuuv1V-WqRw-vBy7Dxz1z3PIj8ys97Cb-A/s1600/101120_Royal_flight_under.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Northern Royal Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9_9uPm7TzA8KDSDaHPvq2uM_ecq5XReU5xDey2H6fDdFcpb1cEw6VTrCuU_sC7BgfeiUwSalwXdMdB5dDEJNfNYD10gNEMVaGM6bur_vD6JlotVCPLd86TW5R_BYsb1wupcImr1E6FM/s1600/101120_Royal_flight_ovan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9_9uPm7TzA8KDSDaHPvq2uM_ecq5XReU5xDey2H6fDdFcpb1cEw6VTrCuU_sC7BgfeiUwSalwXdMdB5dDEJNfNYD10gNEMVaGM6bur_vD6JlotVCPLd86TW5R_BYsb1wupcImr1E6FM/s1600/101120_Royal_flight_ovan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Northern Royal Albatross, with a wingspan more than three metres!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrExKw9Dfc5wior1f9p41ByJah3D2bzRBUqC_u1nRZI_ChS8fJ3AkpVJFDmtUylg2hUaBTpeRMSGEdH7geRjgLWiCbnqRGdl6mYvfTEjmOr2P7WoWsJsiTT6Z6rTij9fxMqysSSXFO9a4/s1600/101120_Royal_liggande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrExKw9Dfc5wior1f9p41ByJah3D2bzRBUqC_u1nRZI_ChS8fJ3AkpVJFDmtUylg2hUaBTpeRMSGEdH7geRjgLWiCbnqRGdl6mYvfTEjmOr2P7WoWsJsiTT6Z6rTij9fxMqysSSXFO9a4/s1600/101120_Royal_liggande.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Northern Royal Albatross, which were more photo friendly today!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0xBucfI_heOuIcGZmkoX3nlQi8_OoDbnz8l7yE2fFFRTJQwv1yEatMOKAT1xxsqGw8O88jjE9RZmdVsZG-Fu3NTz1Vr2kIIpfaKuSVbQI8NxLCtzDcymHeNZcUVCcqBA-Hgu4oJleXU/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_fram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0xBucfI_heOuIcGZmkoX3nlQi8_OoDbnz8l7yE2fFFRTJQwv1yEatMOKAT1xxsqGw8O88jjE9RZmdVsZG-Fu3NTz1Vr2kIIpfaKuSVbQI8NxLCtzDcymHeNZcUVCcqBA-Hgu4oJleXU/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_fram.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wandering Albatross, about 3,5 meteres between the wingtips.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mQWHa9pSktjcimWAV5Ktv88blFF9IITrrBOZRgHOyeivEDre8QwYo3XA0ZjRhrX9Rcte5vrWv4KQaHa07Sdg4Q4VTIXnt4px-2BN4XIZ4eeQUMN4ePflnhSDTswdsM-RoyfrAxTYd_c/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_ovan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mQWHa9pSktjcimWAV5Ktv88blFF9IITrrBOZRgHOyeivEDre8QwYo3XA0ZjRhrX9Rcte5vrWv4KQaHa07Sdg4Q4VTIXnt4px-2BN4XIZ4eeQUMN4ePflnhSDTswdsM-RoyfrAxTYd_c/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_ovan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wandering Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW_lUz8REceMUlXXmOPB8IpCmMbFg2mNl9qLpY9pmLSaQoVWN_enW9D1JY9LbXYw5pabOITRzW3Rtr1Pvr0STxtDU1Lgq3u3V5yq1Ybr-DRPVA0aExb0QumXJqiYqhaHvS1Xt7q5OSlI/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_under.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW_lUz8REceMUlXXmOPB8IpCmMbFg2mNl9qLpY9pmLSaQoVWN_enW9D1JY9LbXYw5pabOITRzW3Rtr1Pvr0STxtDU1Lgq3u3V5yq1Ybr-DRPVA0aExb0QumXJqiYqhaHvS1Xt7q5OSlI/s1600/101120_Wander_flight_under.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Wandering Albatross.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DMzxrUXCsWOAgYg-aDyEioU07_O5drZ5YQr3vkgQkAW_X_zL6dtr8Ks3cFEF4ODh1C0zxYEygFh4MxIJB_rOgvCjdoKpVvePJNq6lfr5akAwSYZkU5NHK4NVRTL78B5o3SfVzF9X0Wg/s1600/101120_White-capped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DMzxrUXCsWOAgYg-aDyEioU07_O5drZ5YQr3vkgQkAW_X_zL6dtr8Ks3cFEF4ODh1C0zxYEygFh4MxIJB_rOgvCjdoKpVvePJNq6lfr5akAwSYZkU5NHK4NVRTL78B5o3SfVzF9X0Wg/s1600/101120_White-capped.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Moulting White-capped Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwhp2x2uVA_RpkgZbrCIYEJqgR6GhHLr7Lm1Piexn1QZtpZSIMl-Aqis2ZxFcKB27fWK3WVmveuqZo_s7g-bd1FJq3OUm2HuoPwAD1fImccvHccCc3YuVzuyFH5P1QOKrpiLy7iqG1tM/s1600/101120_Salvins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwhp2x2uVA_RpkgZbrCIYEJqgR6GhHLr7Lm1Piexn1QZtpZSIMl-Aqis2ZxFcKB27fWK3WVmveuqZo_s7g-bd1FJq3OUm2HuoPwAD1fImccvHccCc3YuVzuyFH5P1QOKrpiLy7iqG1tM/s1600/101120_Salvins.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Salvin's Albatross.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMMVETqwax2ynP8-nY_82rsnuttfC_U2XQVvDp84ZVS4xExGIFybsaLiR_6XSGRft-aL-KbPiGEzJbEp0scnxjWQ7o2-ZpQXSo1O-KmR2laZ8GCjtS9vcpc817-_YfCGCF9h0F-ynz04/s1600/101120_White_Salvins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMMVETqwax2ynP8-nY_82rsnuttfC_U2XQVvDp84ZVS4xExGIFybsaLiR_6XSGRft-aL-KbPiGEzJbEp0scnxjWQ7o2-ZpQXSo1O-KmR2laZ8GCjtS9vcpc817-_YfCGCF9h0F-ynz04/s1600/101120_White_Salvins.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White-capped Albatross (left) and Salvin's Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlmDRplmY68EZJzhZD4O2ICvjwsVQ3hn40C1PUipqioIykvHCvQN4f1w8GlQClA2Ug0cwlWoKnRThEbacW1O7w9G74CF1PN_fv3D-EqELoKixfnpCYGabGY-V1Q-gpzDdjLPmAex6m8s/s1600/101120_Blandat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlmDRplmY68EZJzhZD4O2ICvjwsVQ3hn40C1PUipqioIykvHCvQN4f1w8GlQClA2Ug0cwlWoKnRThEbacW1O7w9G74CF1PN_fv3D-EqELoKixfnpCYGabGY-V1Q-gpzDdjLPmAex6m8s/s1600/101120_Blandat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cape Petrels, Giant Petrels and albatrosses following the boat.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RA5_x9n1wbK89taWl5KXhK9Wx0RH4mB5qBojtadunn7dvns4LrFJ6xuQ3ihTqFJdYB4m_Y440zVQ9328opr3SvKRnGoiFfZN3vt-rrVrEAABasraZupNWNPyrmD43yrTGm7HnjkPTok/s1600/101120_Westland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RA5_x9n1wbK89taWl5KXhK9Wx0RH4mB5qBojtadunn7dvns4LrFJ6xuQ3ihTqFJdYB4m_Y440zVQ9328opr3SvKRnGoiFfZN3vt-rrVrEAABasraZupNWNPyrmD43yrTGm7HnjkPTok/s1600/101120_Westland.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Westland Petrel.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR6inqTAkWyQVbz371tDM0XWgcJ1-oMp3vUrerm-3SwXScqlS-ga9mFCvC9bT3GyVauOxMeDu6ZFj_6K_mQAOkzLHkN66K7M8z6F3l4VgJpNIVqRSAK91YgcYsHZikjHD9Mml7ojoH1o/s1600/101120_Giants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR6inqTAkWyQVbz371tDM0XWgcJ1-oMp3vUrerm-3SwXScqlS-ga9mFCvC9bT3GyVauOxMeDu6ZFj_6K_mQAOkzLHkN66K7M8z6F3l4VgJpNIVqRSAK91YgcYsHZikjHD9Mml7ojoH1o/s1600/101120_Giants.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Northern Giant Petrels.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bk-3-YnmrIQEa4Otp1WVIrssTBdhy6SaG21FyxVaLpuWS4pAHi6AyslQ0WHARpeMUQC4rwXduzBkGhwC3s-o9YfoANW3zrkROKKpKIy_8i10dSGRbAVFzw-3gkTAfJ-TMevCj8iWvlc/s1600/101120_Cape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bk-3-YnmrIQEa4Otp1WVIrssTBdhy6SaG21FyxVaLpuWS4pAHi6AyslQ0WHARpeMUQC4rwXduzBkGhwC3s-o9YfoANW3zrkROKKpKIy_8i10dSGRbAVFzw-3gkTAfJ-TMevCj8iWvlc/s1600/101120_Cape.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cape Petrel.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYDlUNsBI0-m0IKqcN40LAQMGnRhYD00ReS46rEP_LybiF9DY1kdmn7d-38vUSAkziUfsN12oqQuVoySd0EvxYGpJo_WyjSbOYmYdcgNCZCKVe3qaOV_k7gVKOOejBFTEAYk5AD64Fks/s1600/101120_Huttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYDlUNsBI0-m0IKqcN40LAQMGnRhYD00ReS46rEP_LybiF9DY1kdmn7d-38vUSAkziUfsN12oqQuVoySd0EvxYGpJo_WyjSbOYmYdcgNCZCKVe3qaOV_k7gVKOOejBFTEAYk5AD64Fks/s1600/101120_Huttons.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hutton's Sheawater, which breed only in the Seaward Kaikoura Range!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As it continued to rain a decided to do some practical and necessary things such as taking a two-hour power nap, shaving my head as I start to look like long-haired hippie, washing my clothes in a nearby automatic laundry, writng up last days sightings and finally I rounded up the day with a walk along the beach and had a lovely seafood dish in town.</span></span>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-43587249202094775542010-11-19T21:04:00.000+13:002010-11-19T21:04:08.853+13:00Seabird bonanza off Kaikoura - 19th<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dominic and I got up at 5am and had a quick breakfast before we walked to Albatross Encounters office. The skipper Gary Melville and two other partcipants were waiting for us. Great! Just four birders on the boat, meaning good space for everyone. We left the harbour about 6am. Perfect weather conditions, cloudy and just moderate winds. The 2,5 hours (though the time stood still) peleagic produced following species: Northern Royal Albatross (1), Wandering Albatross (5), White-capped Albatross (3), Salvin's Albatross (4), Northern Giant Petrel (7), Westland Petrel (8), White-chinned Petrel (1), Cape Petrel (60), Southern Cape Petrel (1), Hutton's Shearwater (300), Red-billed Gull (20), Black-billed Gull (1), Black-backed (Kelp) Gull (80) and White-fronted Gull (20). What a great morning and the sample of photos below speak for themself! Dominic went back to Picton in the evening and me myself look forward to another pelagic trip tomorrow.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEWvyQWjtp-rEowQc8tX0cSP-9eiJxpCJ6NRqwwawDYKKVRhiM1JJ126B5VjziRv8vuTTFhZ8DCmGXkDUWD5h-LOzf0JqqScK-yaQBHqfkDQRAIEctVBTS3nJddQtf0qHOT-NN4KbtxE/s1600/101119_Salvins_flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEWvyQWjtp-rEowQc8tX0cSP-9eiJxpCJ6NRqwwawDYKKVRhiM1JJ126B5VjziRv8vuTTFhZ8DCmGXkDUWD5h-LOzf0JqqScK-yaQBHqfkDQRAIEctVBTS3nJddQtf0qHOT-NN4KbtxE/s1600/101119_Salvins_flight.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adult Salvin's Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbq-JCHSubRENdUY_L8d8eZh6tofCiD2v2Sj7M2FeczA2u6iZ8tn5pz0ZeNlzVOIODDE8omAgwc6yBg74J_IAd_5sxxL5rc5Ne1pLddAufQeTzjgyyR2_jRbbj6agVStp9bDbs4DniWs/s1600/101119_Wandering_flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbq-JCHSubRENdUY_L8d8eZh6tofCiD2v2Sj7M2FeczA2u6iZ8tn5pz0ZeNlzVOIODDE8omAgwc6yBg74J_IAd_5sxxL5rc5Ne1pLddAufQeTzjgyyR2_jRbbj6agVStp9bDbs4DniWs/s1600/101119_Wandering_flight.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adult Wandering Albatross coming in!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHl2Ai5HKUkwZAnePGTs6rFP1dlKWTU2XFBTJvxxYArMH3YqECN1qN8E-s-gURH2d64EbzD05HtCg7vskjhGLq2X2p9N2M9J110KhXSlem0U67lX-FOV96oSXRF3aDPJkc5lEZAvrHTiw/s1600/101119_Dominic_seabirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHl2Ai5HKUkwZAnePGTs6rFP1dlKWTU2XFBTJvxxYArMH3YqECN1qN8E-s-gURH2d64EbzD05HtCg7vskjhGLq2X2p9N2M9J110KhXSlem0U67lX-FOV96oSXRF3aDPJkc5lEZAvrHTiw/s1600/101119_Dominic_seabirds.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dominic in action. Northern Giant Petrels, Salvin's and Wandering Albatross and lot of Cape Petrels.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98s3WMEkx88KhMVfPnpekFZrhYEOb1rhsOBpQ-95rtfx0NqcMshuNaztP7QOi7ulKm3pm_ynUwuOBg-hB7hMRQ0M-ySbhGaaF7f_j0WSO_F9clPY7E15hiTNQAEuovgRf7KHCNpmyVwY/s1600/101119_Salvins_settled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98s3WMEkx88KhMVfPnpekFZrhYEOb1rhsOBpQ-95rtfx0NqcMshuNaztP7QOi7ulKm3pm_ynUwuOBg-hB7hMRQ0M-ySbhGaaF7f_j0WSO_F9clPY7E15hiTNQAEuovgRf7KHCNpmyVwY/s1600/101119_Salvins_settled.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adult Salvin's Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_1Gg_NxpT23Ve_ayZMamUW-ZLZnib6TsZrAFE1dy-OFS24o-b30OiiiGyMFdihoTqnUi_aoU4G_NTbvotd1FUimeDX7Ur3LFXrCGWQq1RxfDgbLzYxWWan5CKL_p6PzEJjuobZqtDM0/s1600/101119_Salvins_settled_youn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_1Gg_NxpT23Ve_ayZMamUW-ZLZnib6TsZrAFE1dy-OFS24o-b30OiiiGyMFdihoTqnUi_aoU4G_NTbvotd1FUimeDX7Ur3LFXrCGWQq1RxfDgbLzYxWWan5CKL_p6PzEJjuobZqtDM0/s1600/101119_Salvins_settled_youn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Immature Salvin's Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc25nnuXjJoabH66-4Mk1FuemfdufQWAIRXWb4Ffh__e0ylEaDWMO2WDViaKr58lYtuOECMYgbMcJzXrnbBIe5H3RR3LktDxHzajFaFQ3pa53CG98Uh1prMT_SQUOahI9LzO82IG470g/s1600/101119_White-capped_young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc25nnuXjJoabH66-4Mk1FuemfdufQWAIRXWb4Ffh__e0ylEaDWMO2WDViaKr58lYtuOECMYgbMcJzXrnbBIe5H3RR3LktDxHzajFaFQ3pa53CG98Uh1prMT_SQUOahI9LzO82IG470g/s1600/101119_White-capped_young.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Immature White-capped Albatross and Cape Petrels.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG3u2BgzjgZZyy7rmKDyV0VBLe-KlPnvCX-EaVxxCR_YoJB-TWro46_oKavi_qNFQp10oka6LhU284SuycLbTfrGCLSOQ6ROPtP9Q-E6k3dmhGfjQLqYUrd85i943u8mev65GXjCWRVk/s1600/101119_Wandering_settled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG3u2BgzjgZZyy7rmKDyV0VBLe-KlPnvCX-EaVxxCR_YoJB-TWro46_oKavi_qNFQp10oka6LhU284SuycLbTfrGCLSOQ6ROPtP9Q-E6k3dmhGfjQLqYUrd85i943u8mev65GXjCWRVk/s1600/101119_Wandering_settled.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A gorgeous adult Wandering Albatross!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbx4LGxOZfLbxAhtCMmDeZHgctEjHh7qBiSNOAHgI9y0UjfXvZmgdSAjMKjpOA-dtUz_yGNEnrEAtEmbHe6yCJgdB75VZ7mFyAGG6HSX_k0eXXFTgp0x5a7bfaUmYlpjrbaPwL-sAdVk/s1600/101119_Westland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Westland Petrel.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y9Px75eyLwhX1XZFzQiejGGKOBqwvxAsGdFmcLk91GGBM2Zza4-Y1qFHMf9BZ2YwdQW-6ck9rHpdOIOISsN6YdQvHBIohV3KgOnCAz_LSavWGtzehSaDp-FOXc1AQyB0BHa38tg0BaU/s1600/101119_Wandering_settled_mo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y9Px75eyLwhX1XZFzQiejGGKOBqwvxAsGdFmcLk91GGBM2Zza4-Y1qFHMf9BZ2YwdQW-6ck9rHpdOIOISsN6YdQvHBIohV3KgOnCAz_LSavWGtzehSaDp-FOXc1AQyB0BHa38tg0BaU/s1600/101119_Wandering_settled_mo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wandering Albatross and Kaikouta Ranges in background.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZcrVGpMb1MrRx2P1FB3FNCXtL_aUz_Pl-MhUc60JFnpXWJk4avRkIJ2-ZZB1W8WJacJVWqH9AlY0CKNOOi-vZXiOEPgwINLt98384wyOG4Krd2h1y_fYb60Bf2I3hl48ns92NjKiJyg/s1600/101119_Cape_Petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZcrVGpMb1MrRx2P1FB3FNCXtL_aUz_Pl-MhUc60JFnpXWJk4avRkIJ2-ZZB1W8WJacJVWqH9AlY0CKNOOi-vZXiOEPgwINLt98384wyOG4Krd2h1y_fYb60Bf2I3hl48ns92NjKiJyg/s1600/101119_Cape_Petrel.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A beautiful Cape Petrel.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4SoUNR2vD4GA-na5c9AhUmfmOwOyVxaoV1DZGhd6j5cv16eHPAVUABQ3SXA2_zXWCz7ccLnhkg1FK3dS2wef3KaJbZ725uwiAfHFH7Naqf7lMIUVxRFAEOrtwqTZ3xI1kN59DI2a7LA/s1600/101119_Cape_Petrel_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4SoUNR2vD4GA-na5c9AhUmfmOwOyVxaoV1DZGhd6j5cv16eHPAVUABQ3SXA2_zXWCz7ccLnhkg1FK3dS2wef3KaJbZ725uwiAfHFH7Naqf7lMIUVxRFAEOrtwqTZ3xI1kN59DI2a7LA/s1600/101119_Cape_Petrel_2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cape Petrel.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjkPoGW8DsxjBJsk9qcfdAXZAasDXihb_3V95Y7LWHOGNlNOEcteTfwL0WAzYu9T43Gp2XPRaJv5vW10_nRqRos64bEpr9LIJGblWPCn2j9b2LitcrqPsQfOmX8n0tnxtBmM6g2syhX0/s1600/101119_Wandering_settled_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjkPoGW8DsxjBJsk9qcfdAXZAasDXihb_3V95Y7LWHOGNlNOEcteTfwL0WAzYu9T43Gp2XPRaJv5vW10_nRqRos64bEpr9LIJGblWPCn2j9b2LitcrqPsQfOmX8n0tnxtBmM6g2syhX0/s1600/101119_Wandering_settled_2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cape Petrels, Giant Petrels and Wandering Albatross.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wlBaVZ6Yn1UsNqGPbFCHkX7quE-XALNvKLJaLbQcEl3kCI5RDOvT7_KENX_QCmFtY7iLWzTGkYypa3ISHY6gEJenm0BzSkUpxvtdtMSxzM9NB0LhgT0XGllm0Tadj5jSWu7xdHKtG3Q/s1600/101119_Dusky_Dolphins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wlBaVZ6Yn1UsNqGPbFCHkX7quE-XALNvKLJaLbQcEl3kCI5RDOvT7_KENX_QCmFtY7iLWzTGkYypa3ISHY6gEJenm0BzSkUpxvtdtMSxzM9NB0LhgT0XGllm0Tadj5jSWu7xdHKtG3Q/s1600/101119_Dusky_Dolphins.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dusky Dolphins.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRylph9UF1t4K2ZhkjAJqRM_yk0DUPJ8-ZeoWqJvWB8DPU-gg1yM0OM-cD38ieVuOVnEHaKVEce2sxJuM30qxsDh7vqIdJlKA3LKH43M5j_PsKusOzEm_zaTFmBSjyEEDE_GViWUcsDDc/s1600/101119_Dominic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRylph9UF1t4K2ZhkjAJqRM_yk0DUPJ8-ZeoWqJvWB8DPU-gg1yM0OM-cD38ieVuOVnEHaKVEce2sxJuM30qxsDh7vqIdJlKA3LKH43M5j_PsKusOzEm_zaTFmBSjyEEDE_GViWUcsDDc/s1600/101119_Dominic.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dominic were very happy with the pelagic.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOOX1ZvG2XQTMTVDQSMRfq9YKpCHotrk_Nwzsn-bMABfXdRqBZNOTX2o_rJM4ZdnYlP7e_p2VKz2Nfu1BINHeTkcrKYHgi2Gpmr8qf0YaFOwGEiOjKdEur6s9jkErqf0ezDDktcpEuZA/s1600/101119_Final_view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOOX1ZvG2XQTMTVDQSMRfq9YKpCHotrk_Nwzsn-bMABfXdRqBZNOTX2o_rJM4ZdnYlP7e_p2VKz2Nfu1BINHeTkcrKYHgi2Gpmr8qf0YaFOwGEiOjKdEur6s9jkErqf0ezDDktcpEuZA/s1600/101119_Final_view.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bay of Kaikoura and Kaikoura Ranges with its snowy peaks.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-16149358292151843432010-11-18T22:48:00.000+13:002010-11-18T22:48:44.121+13:00Wellington-Picton-Kaikoura 17-18th<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Left Chathams at 10:15am on Wednesday 17th and arrived to Wellington two hours later. Checked in at XBase. Had a shower, write up sightings, checked e-mail, updated the travel blog and had a late taste-of-india- lunch round the corner. Took the bus uphill to Karori Sanctuary, but unfortunately it closed at 4pm and I were 20 minutes late. However, I took a walk along the fence and saw lot of Tuis, several singing Tomtits, Fantails, a New Zealand Falcon at three occasions and saw and heard several Long-tailed Cuckoos. Then I had a nice walk down to my accommodation through Aro valley. Got to bed early.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWu44PVtL59fOqmtL0mIzjeQAZb26Wvkr0rzxTQUfZgBSRDqbW66TmbTrRZWJtUfCyIaA4IVwsasPYAUcAzCbpFX9iGMUWpJEc3mRJCVvQkiyIkcj4kiiZGi-Hpgl-tjy2OAkdYyzzZs/s1600/101117a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWu44PVtL59fOqmtL0mIzjeQAZb26Wvkr0rzxTQUfZgBSRDqbW66TmbTrRZWJtUfCyIaA4IVwsasPYAUcAzCbpFX9iGMUWpJEc3mRJCVvQkiyIkcj4kiiZGi-Hpgl-tjy2OAkdYyzzZs/s1600/101117a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Central Wellington seen from Karori.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5I4AOpl_Jl__10dGQGkOagLIB_LRVzlbcL5bNApYgwPyodnWfHunMiuIT8mUXfS8Zb1DfZubnrIU72fLuzrZaq7N05iHfyZ-tBoTLp6DzWtLeQNRFWBAMdaSCJRMtRj-VIsQBoTddkk/s1600/101117b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5I4AOpl_Jl__10dGQGkOagLIB_LRVzlbcL5bNApYgwPyodnWfHunMiuIT8mUXfS8Zb1DfZubnrIU72fLuzrZaq7N05iHfyZ-tBoTLp6DzWtLeQNRFWBAMdaSCJRMtRj-VIsQBoTddkk/s1600/101117b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of many Tuis seen on my walk in Aro valley.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Got up at 06:15am. Packed and had breakfast at XBase while checking e-mail. Took a taxi to the ferry terminal and checked-in my baggage. The ferry to Picton on the South Island left at 8:25am. It were very windy in the open sea. The ferry was steady, but the salt spray were quite annoying for an hour or so. However, the crossing produced a few Flesh-footed Shearwaters, at least 300 Fairy Prions and a magnificent White-capped Albatross! When we approached Marlborough Sounds the sea got calmer and I started to look for shags and the King among shags. I saw Little, Little Black, Pied and Spotted Shags, but, unfortunately, not a single King Shag. There were a few good rafts of Fluttering Shearwaters and a many Australian Gannets.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well in Picton I headed to the train station, not more than five minutes from the ferry terminal. Here I should meet the Swiss birder Dominic Martin by appointment for company to Kaikoura and seawatching there. He arrived ten minutes before the departure. The Tranz Scenic took about 2 1/2 hour and offered nice views along the coast. In Kaikoura we visited the Albatross Encounter's office and payed for tomorrow's pelagic trip and then headed to our accommodation at Lazy Shag. Dominic made a nice pasta supper and afterwards we had a five minutes walk to the beach for an hour of seawatching. We saw six Parasitic Skuas (and a few unidentified distant ones), numerous of small shearwaters (most probably Hutton's), Red-billed Gulls, White-fronted Terns, Australian Shovelers and a pair of Banded Dotterel. We rounded off the day at a nice outside table, a latte for me and a beer for Dominic and a nice chat.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwlaJxWi3MD5xx6mX7uvOzwl1szpEU1DvwXVRSfLrMybYFZEShhl4OIHqDbYBoM_cubrKo9NZIlXybo6OLUs2LTb3hs7TDxd1lc0Blv-8I9QiylTFqKOD5Ts5M74eS-I0OwvDmgzpWpA/s1600/101118a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwlaJxWi3MD5xx6mX7uvOzwl1szpEU1DvwXVRSfLrMybYFZEShhl4OIHqDbYBoM_cubrKo9NZIlXybo6OLUs2LTb3hs7TDxd1lc0Blv-8I9QiylTFqKOD5Ts5M74eS-I0OwvDmgzpWpA/s1600/101118a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wellington seen from the ferry to Picton.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCev1hRUpM9d-ALyHedzxS5nwaFl-luKmyv8tikQd5JbipJPiAICV7owZ6oOduZsryyRs_qXzgmx9rWLZvrWDSS2uiDTah7jlSakOqeVPcLFWW6mYiAca5zniiB-qrXN4r3LlhIZXv09I/s1600/101118b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCev1hRUpM9d-ALyHedzxS5nwaFl-luKmyv8tikQd5JbipJPiAICV7owZ6oOduZsryyRs_qXzgmx9rWLZvrWDSS2uiDTah7jlSakOqeVPcLFWW6mYiAca5zniiB-qrXN4r3LlhIZXv09I/s1600/101118b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tory Channel (Marlborough Sond) on the South Island.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyG6f-68IXVhRfZnEmGZKzYqUZYyiSqU8AZEQTkFIpTscqg7fs-JU-0yG8VE4vIXw_xF4w3wjcV5oDK44fNan9ksmhHbFJbHM2xT7bLiKZhh7XlKS3onpyCfbmMHUErAJb46CIBr1erw/s1600/101118c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyG6f-68IXVhRfZnEmGZKzYqUZYyiSqU8AZEQTkFIpTscqg7fs-JU-0yG8VE4vIXw_xF4w3wjcV5oDK44fNan9ksmhHbFJbHM2xT7bLiKZhh7XlKS3onpyCfbmMHUErAJb46CIBr1erw/s1600/101118c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View from the ferry at Queen Charlotte Sound.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKM3uctw3Ccjmj0DJ9LQhKY5UG1VY_3zWk2RrGi017o_SWYroKBult-FyQ6p8cdwWxAKptldhUyQDDRJXDu1GspPleC8m38DJ7Q8EYJGSYSIUwpD9FKMVOi8tnMfl2JQ87mSvkXezw-I/s1600/101118d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKM3uctw3Ccjmj0DJ9LQhKY5UG1VY_3zWk2RrGi017o_SWYroKBult-FyQ6p8cdwWxAKptldhUyQDDRJXDu1GspPleC8m38DJ7Q8EYJGSYSIUwpD9FKMVOi8tnMfl2JQ87mSvkXezw-I/s1600/101118d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dominic scanning the sea at the beach of Kaikoura.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592224790381374531.post-62638632798433457052010-11-17T13:28:00.149+13:002010-11-18T18:10:30.762+13:00Chatham Islands on 12-16th November<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arrival to Chathams</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had nice Friday morning in a sunny Wellington exploring a little part of the town and, of course, a couple of latte, of which one were enjoyed at the Opera House plaza. At 11:00 I did catch the bus to he airport, which only took 15 minutes. Wellington Airport is in fact quite nice as it is rather small and no heavily traffic. The little plane to Chathams were delayed nearly an hour, but I was in no hurry. We were about 20 people going to Chathams, of which nearly all had connections to the island. We arrived about 4pm (+ 45 minutes ahead to NZ) and Natasha from Hotel Chatham was there to pick me up. Natasha guided me through the landscape and the islands history. At the small village Waitangi (were about 70 people live) she dropped me at the Beach house. A lovely little house with modern equipment and decoration, just 100 metres from the beach. I shared the house with a nice couple, Angie and Bruce, from the mainland. Angela doing a lot for the conservation with a main interest in butterflies and her father Bruce is a Kiwi farmer and they are staying for a week. I learn a lot from them about NZ in general and different conservation projects going on here and there in NZ.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9PDz5TBqtMGMxv7BPPKnWchd0IX0Fbw-4q1MqmZrMCW44PdbkcO2Hv99-Li9eLacgpF2IqFCe6Z9qPVdZJTOdDIzMeaQToQsD8LAZ-YrW-DXwrRQveL3RuGPslWv1mTA9ARHruiW9hI/s1600/101112a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9PDz5TBqtMGMxv7BPPKnWchd0IX0Fbw-4q1MqmZrMCW44PdbkcO2Hv99-Li9eLacgpF2IqFCe6Z9qPVdZJTOdDIzMeaQToQsD8LAZ-YrW-DXwrRQveL3RuGPslWv1mTA9ARHruiW9hI/s1600/101112a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">This 24 seat plane traffic Chathams-Wellington three days a week.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-pgsJHgBkmZlbXt5p9jriEJ6aSk6EfQSpWqu1k90bnH2vtotzlsig99HCmtgUNF7iVKij65D3jcwF97Lgc3TdjWpPIOg_PI5gJBRchkVtqtdolSH3wxhYAdGGbS5p7y7E7wGAL9Cj88/s1600/101112b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-pgsJHgBkmZlbXt5p9jriEJ6aSk6EfQSpWqu1k90bnH2vtotzlsig99HCmtgUNF7iVKij65D3jcwF97Lgc3TdjWpPIOg_PI5gJBRchkVtqtdolSH3wxhYAdGGbS5p7y7E7wGAL9Cj88/s1600/101112b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View at Waitangi Bay towards the village Waitangi in far background.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Short facts about Chatham Island:</b> This remote group of 10 islands lies 768 kms east of Wellington. Approximate land area for Chatham Island is 90,000 ha and Pitt Island 6,200 ha. Only these two islands is inhabited, by 600 and 50 persons respectively. The islands were formed eons ago by volcanic upthrust and were first inhabited by the Moriori tribe, which arrived between 500 and 1100 years ago. Its distinctive Polynesian culture was mainly peaceful but the situation changed for the worse with the arrival of Europeans in 1791 and followed by groups of mainland Maori in the mid 1800s. The last full-blood Moriori Tommy Solomon died in 1933. The first European to arrive on the islands was Lieutenant William Robert Broughton, commanding the brig HMS Chatham. He named Chatham Island efter his ship and Pitt Island after William Pitt, Earl of Chatham.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06RPyIkqt5sZC3HwjrRAPyjK_cGN_tDNtMPnfAQeT9mSuaQqnQttOuq3EqMnwg1QHz1uWZkqQvMcoOBKbf_-3SNHiaTg4l5F3TW7Fokp9EjszwNxpLCAZpEYJzogPMkoy4Dg5m3oyuaA/s1600/101112a_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06RPyIkqt5sZC3HwjrRAPyjK_cGN_tDNtMPnfAQeT9mSuaQqnQttOuq3EqMnwg1QHz1uWZkqQvMcoOBKbf_-3SNHiaTg4l5F3TW7Fokp9EjszwNxpLCAZpEYJzogPMkoy4Dg5m3oyuaA/s1600/101112a_map.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA4GmtUKNJFM4ZOaomVjqi575QdBgJfiLRQTcbyDX1maawiPjckDO7QLG14wdyaSc5KXWcdKOagqg5_5YcmLUjQvVduuJBZTt4d1GVHkSU2qhWg-Ie-ZYusuTGEN2HSXH6jqValjesXQ/s1600/101113a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Exploring the northern part</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Saturday two mini buses picked us up at 9am for a full day tour at the northern part of Chatham Island. The tour were arranged by Val at Hotel Chatham for a group of kiwis and Bruce, Angela and myself were able to join. Andy and Ben were excellent guides and drivers throughout the day. While the others had a look of sights I was looking for birds. At noon we had a stop at Matarakau at the northeastern part and I was able to scan the sea for the first time. Within a minute a saw a flock of beautiful Chatham Island Shags that flew by close to the shore. Five minutes later I spotted my first albatross ever! What a magnificent and elegant bird. The bird of my dreams! Soon I could identify it as a Buller’s Albatross, one of the “smaller” albatrosses. We did stops now and then, but of the more interesting places were the 200-year-old Moriori tree carvings at Hapupu, the old whaling station at Okawa Point where Andy collected paua and kina from the sea and Point Munning and its fur seal colony and breeding Pitt Island Shags. At the two latter sites I saw many Sooty Shearwaters, four Buller’s Albatrosses and several distant and unidentified medium-sized albatrosses.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At 6pm we reached the small village Kaingaroa, located on the northeastern tip, for the yearly community seafood feast. What a perfect timing for us. Locals from the area cooking their special seafood meals and take it to the club house restaurant in the harbour. One pay $NZ50 and you eat as many different dishes you want. It was indeed a gastronomic experience. My favourites were crayfish, cremed paua and muttonbird.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At 9pm the bus dropped us at our house. So many impressions in ones mind and a good tiredness, being outdoor all day long in good company. And not to be forgotten, three endemic bird species (Chatham and Pill Island Shag and Chatham Oystercatcher) as a few endemic subspecies.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA4GmtUKNJFM4ZOaomVjqi575QdBgJfiLRQTcbyDX1maawiPjckDO7QLG14wdyaSc5KXWcdKOagqg5_5YcmLUjQvVduuJBZTt4d1GVHkSU2qhWg-Ie-ZYusuTGEN2HSXH6jqValjesXQ/s1600/101113a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA4GmtUKNJFM4ZOaomVjqi575QdBgJfiLRQTcbyDX1maawiPjckDO7QLG14wdyaSc5KXWcdKOagqg5_5YcmLUjQvVduuJBZTt4d1GVHkSU2qhWg-Ie-ZYusuTGEN2HSXH6jqValjesXQ/s1600/101113a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A Black Swan egg. We boiled one and made an omelette of another, which were good enough for three people.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzAfpkC4IOQEcmwotTaG7z-GWkE0VVgbsEJ3kHFR1vwJdoYHdqHS81-TzXCdXA7z9wtcs6HDW96sNqx3bpKLOY440iAmg0ey5vfYiycXRPlzZO0eM6h5qDZQ8Cpwfiog-anXRlpkeFU0/s1600/101113b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzAfpkC4IOQEcmwotTaG7z-GWkE0VVgbsEJ3kHFR1vwJdoYHdqHS81-TzXCdXA7z9wtcs6HDW96sNqx3bpKLOY440iAmg0ey5vfYiycXRPlzZO0eM6h5qDZQ8Cpwfiog-anXRlpkeFU0/s1600/101113b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">One of several nice 200-year-old Moriori tree carvings (dendroglyphs) in the Hapupu forest reserve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FPQa9gTE9vYTLgrnWbFjdhusa8PMbXKqAbd0j164y_uxlvtPf23o3CaUlRUquYFBqaJAjAqIb3w78nk-ZJ_AkyfRJBNYtbFHAvFx50yo7K70O_SUADZ-HUMIkOnC8tFpCkbdeoJfKXU/s1600/101113c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FPQa9gTE9vYTLgrnWbFjdhusa8PMbXKqAbd0j164y_uxlvtPf23o3CaUlRUquYFBqaJAjAqIb3w78nk-ZJ_AkyfRJBNYtbFHAvFx50yo7K70O_SUADZ-HUMIkOnC8tFpCkbdeoJfKXU/s1600/101113c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View towards Point Munning, the northeasternmost tip on Chatham Island.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyR2iNNoUtbygqWFNL0WCyMTx7CV3W0PO8kWUp4qVkxnq6PFJuFhigaEHGLpzTyX5g6vDmzbKlJD7vbU97up7B8pmrlFfPQrAvZ54tWIcstzQROqLaZwgsPDKT7CJ1ZnChVpvkVcqWSM/s1600/101113d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyR2iNNoUtbygqWFNL0WCyMTx7CV3W0PO8kWUp4qVkxnq6PFJuFhigaEHGLpzTyX5g6vDmzbKlJD7vbU97up7B8pmrlFfPQrAvZ54tWIcstzQROqLaZwgsPDKT7CJ1ZnChVpvkVcqWSM/s1600/101113d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View from Te Whakaru towards Okawa Point on the northeastern part.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0aZ1I8tlp0j0Y9N0hGf8lRyCKLPN4mv8m-hngR0w_EyT7Wb2N4f3iPKrZu8ceti_v1MPc_b-3OozkkDI1As-EDJU2l2E0SqWfRWRBHhKPTxi5rJ-9U_fsXaHpR5vXlosQZFwejkuJTo/s1600/101113e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0aZ1I8tlp0j0Y9N0hGf8lRyCKLPN4mv8m-hngR0w_EyT7Wb2N4f3iPKrZu8ceti_v1MPc_b-3OozkkDI1As-EDJU2l2E0SqWfRWRBHhKPTxi5rJ-9U_fsXaHpR5vXlosQZFwejkuJTo/s1600/101113e.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A nice Weka, which is rather common on the island and the locals have them on the dish.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I8FWuSMV_3JRhE6qRwZ-wVHL9uHf4H7wtvm-Jta1RF9XuwRdqGsy-6I1CWprmubXcvris1IX1y5rLh4yadUVfOIaAlr8C84dWbWS68USUwHR1SX4C4-mg5JlHdhUqeKWnHZWciXgzWg/s1600/101113f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I8FWuSMV_3JRhE6qRwZ-wVHL9uHf4H7wtvm-Jta1RF9XuwRdqGsy-6I1CWprmubXcvris1IX1y5rLh4yadUVfOIaAlr8C84dWbWS68USUwHR1SX4C4-mg5JlHdhUqeKWnHZWciXgzWg/s1600/101113f.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The endemic Chatham Island Red Admiral.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm0e7lQv4JCDctumEjNlYN5rDmwuX703NEQji2J-Z1haig-jvrpsZ6y65yD1fpgwdPfMznbYRCWnuI-kQ9hbL2jJPQvYirRL19uHGkqAHWPHZyHhoXcClFSaYRU988v90QYfoX9MbV-s/s1600/101113g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm0e7lQv4JCDctumEjNlYN5rDmwuX703NEQji2J-Z1haig-jvrpsZ6y65yD1fpgwdPfMznbYRCWnuI-kQ9hbL2jJPQvYirRL19uHGkqAHWPHZyHhoXcClFSaYRU988v90QYfoX9MbV-s/s1600/101113g.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">New Zealand Fur Seals at Point Munning, where we also saw lot of puppets playing in small pools!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LDKebVOliZP3WjQYQ_368IfnS8I-15mGeOFWAVEcDlrqHyfsOQ5NAQ51SxrcpaF4aW3OFRJLzaEqAq8X_JvWKeas9LPH9vZnZCq3_-oqkwPhPosLuXrqYkC_zF9Vcleh1bd78gh-vko/s1600/101113h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LDKebVOliZP3WjQYQ_368IfnS8I-15mGeOFWAVEcDlrqHyfsOQ5NAQ51SxrcpaF4aW3OFRJLzaEqAq8X_JvWKeas9LPH9vZnZCq3_-oqkwPhPosLuXrqYkC_zF9Vcleh1bd78gh-vko/s1600/101113h.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Huge Black-footed Pauas, which Andy collect from the sea within a five minute swim in the cold sea!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LbCZ43L2wOkorlu3DMbU8Fp3N7KIzzzeYk5ugrU33PbLEkNGFAkVz94YjZ4YB_uIOqWDPl-J8Z3DSAmMJq9-KfKMJBKsU99FO481ZMEuJduGLyzaqFN_6pOfE5OjZFnNPtU2-vYGU-w/s1600/101113hh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LbCZ43L2wOkorlu3DMbU8Fp3N7KIzzzeYk5ugrU33PbLEkNGFAkVz94YjZ4YB_uIOqWDPl-J8Z3DSAmMJq9-KfKMJBKsU99FO481ZMEuJduGLyzaqFN_6pOfE5OjZFnNPtU2-vYGU-w/s1600/101113hh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The beautiful shell of a Paua.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2VICZ6SXXjDT4beWIvXxAKoKT2nO4r0QTmfJky5JTW0X6h6FWLpeaz7ShYJ9BcDIwhdG7M8OKyaK6LZlBSwn_-8hsyJ6xiokDWxB37OKdQ5l2X2yg6mmOWCQaLJ69PzqF6mzK_v3K0k/s1600/101113i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2VICZ6SXXjDT4beWIvXxAKoKT2nO4r0QTmfJky5JTW0X6h6FWLpeaz7ShYJ9BcDIwhdG7M8OKyaK6LZlBSwn_-8hsyJ6xiokDWxB37OKdQ5l2X2yg6mmOWCQaLJ69PzqF6mzK_v3K0k/s1600/101113i.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Muttonbird (Sooty Shearwater chicks) were one of the dishes on the seafood feast at Kaingaro.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A bicycle ride to the southeastern part</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
On Sunday 14th I had a nice lie-in and got up 8am. I spoke to Val at the hotel and he promised to arrange with bicycle for me as intended to visit the southern parts on the remaining days by my own. In meantime I tried to connect to Internet at the hotel, but the connection were too slow to work properly. Val dropped by with a mountain bike and hit the road, but unfortunately, in wrong direction. However, I continued on the hilly gravel road to Owenga on the southeastern part. To be true the this part didn’t offer much, but pasture land, gorse and areas with introduced forests of pine and spurce. Also, I think Chatham Island hold the world largest population of European Skylark. However, I were happy to found at least two Chatham Island Tui (probably three birds) in a small valley with a river stream halfway to Owenga. Strange, as the books says the Tui is present only on Pitt and South East Island. There were also several Fantails and Silvereyes. I was back to the Beach house at 4pm. In all I did 50 kilometres on bicycle, of which the return in strong headwind. I had a dinner and enjoyed the surroundings in late afternoon.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZhEzX4SxGRsAz2lUnTMqGkU6hNlN6xXKMKExFoOXpRA9O3foUze1Z1J_A2-hOApWMWNghO8VO_9Kvte8D-99zEvJI6gYuP4a1PaLKy2xYvrN2Q9HZKwUE_u4X3Wf0pbMxgR6NytP0_I/s1600/101114a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZhEzX4SxGRsAz2lUnTMqGkU6hNlN6xXKMKExFoOXpRA9O3foUze1Z1J_A2-hOApWMWNghO8VO_9Kvte8D-99zEvJI6gYuP4a1PaLKy2xYvrN2Q9HZKwUE_u4X3Wf0pbMxgR6NytP0_I/s1600/101114a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">View towards Waintangi, which is the main village and home for about 70 persons.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwVwDTGU774HYf7T1D8IONLn1IsUebzxgkI7kvBoerAA2GNBaYect0ECAwvvZSGX898-WMbnNQfAOmdiVQw9P_sQd9SrV1VK3vsm-RzxyRL5vBviQ9_UhtCoWheySBKW9rtRIrbTd5UI/s1600/101114c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwVwDTGU774HYf7T1D8IONLn1IsUebzxgkI7kvBoerAA2GNBaYect0ECAwvvZSGX898-WMbnNQfAOmdiVQw9P_sQd9SrV1VK3vsm-RzxyRL5vBviQ9_UhtCoWheySBKW9rtRIrbTd5UI/s1600/101114c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely stream in the valley where the Tuis were seen.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs02uumpcDrK9rh7VW1bOfxOGjEhrVeLNHhsDFki5WuGQtK9uoqtJ53W6xdWkfewz_XKLu9xgLTPlbZv8iJ5W2lKtnSVT1dFLo6JSqPQadATTRiNESNejrust3dr6WvMPSv7BK6_l3khM/s1600/101114d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs02uumpcDrK9rh7VW1bOfxOGjEhrVeLNHhsDFki5WuGQtK9uoqtJ53W6xdWkfewz_XKLu9xgLTPlbZv8iJ5W2lKtnSVT1dFLo6JSqPQadATTRiNESNejrust3dr6WvMPSv7BK6_l3khM/s1600/101114d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The statue of Tommy Solomon, the last full-blood Moriori who died 1933.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuAbkJi1VQkAjua_W1oGaQsdOiX0MI5jrEcyN7xI4GtR806Y3sNconLvP2lFslmbuvopRHs6WuDVciRL95T2kDiT-vDxqmZSoGCtHsieFV0HTIB-psUBKLf0MV0-VAdCVAOpGcw3gQWQ/s1600/101114b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuAbkJi1VQkAjua_W1oGaQsdOiX0MI5jrEcyN7xI4GtR806Y3sNconLvP2lFslmbuvopRHs6WuDVciRL95T2kDiT-vDxqmZSoGCtHsieFV0HTIB-psUBKLf0MV0-VAdCVAOpGcw3gQWQ/s1600/101114b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View at the southeastern part.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Southwestern and northern parts by car</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Due to very strong winds the planned trip to Pitt Island were cancelled. Angela and Bruce hired a car by Val, so I joined them for a full day travelling. We started at the DOC office and a guy there were helpful and we received useful information for the day’s route. He also informed us that about 40 Chatham Island Tui was transferred from Pitt Island to Chatham recently, which explain my birds on yesterday.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We decided to try for the Chatham Island Pigeons and Parakeets on the southwestern part. Halfway from Waitangi we suddenly discovered a huge seabird gliding inshore and over the pasture land. I soon recognize it as a Northern Giant Petrel. Wow, what a totally unexpected sight! Next there were three more and we soon found out that a dead sheep attracted these scavengers.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We arrived to the Waterfall Creek, a nice valley with native forest, and soon Angela spotted a pigeon perched in a tree. We enjoyed the sight and soon the pigeon flew away. We continued to walk upwards from the valley and when we reached the ridge we found several foraging pigeons on the fields close to the road. We had many close views within the next hour and we saw up to 30 pigeons. While we had a coffee break at the bottom of the valley we also had a quick glimpse of two Chatham Island Parakeets and several Chatham Islands Tuis. Totally satisfied we headed back to Waitangi and further north to Nikau Bush Reserve, which id famous for its Nikau Palms. It’s a completely lovely forest, but a little rest of what once was. There were several Fantails and Silvereyes. We continued northwards and made several stops along the Te Whanga lagoon and saw for example Grey Ducks, Masked Lapwings, Pied Stilts. White-fronted Terns, Wekas, White-faced Heron, Black Swans and Great Cormorants. Swamp Harriers were to seen now and then throughout the day.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the afternoon we reached Wharekauri at the northernmost part. A beautiful and untouched coastline. The sea was rough and shifted in colouration. Sooty Shearwaters passing by as did several Northern Giant Petrels close to the shore, while a few Buller’s Albatrosses kept their distance to shore. A pair of Chatham Island Oystercatcher seem to be nesting at the site and both were colour-tagged. We just enjoyed the moment. On the way back we had a stop at Blind Jims and had a look for fossil shark teeths. We found several small black ones. Back at our house Angela made a delicious pasta dinner, which concluded a very good day!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZsxTUQHAToENf2o8NHY3YJOywM2pwjwYYOi6KWgmo1oTmpfRgQ_GwcgmeVKYRsyGNcAmPbnAPqP64OzRR-_oeuh0ez0MOIMzBA2eUUzKAXsG6Mkw32XUt6tbW0YpYnWTescwutghwls/s1600/101115a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZsxTUQHAToENf2o8NHY3YJOywM2pwjwYYOi6KWgmo1oTmpfRgQ_GwcgmeVKYRsyGNcAmPbnAPqP64OzRR-_oeuh0ez0MOIMzBA2eUUzKAXsG6Mkw32XUt6tbW0YpYnWTescwutghwls/s1600/101115a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The Waterfall Creek with its lovely native forest.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmKHunaePj-e1btubfu-o03pFjUf2wlOsZY0illqnJr9UzxQQ29SgFNkmnaiX5T-x3mCEErguSBFhk2ef_umtVu4Ffsu1qrBXeYQaDuvW6FN_RKXtoyjqIX0wPmZ06xw2FhrdquKJ7BY/s1600/101115b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmKHunaePj-e1btubfu-o03pFjUf2wlOsZY0illqnJr9UzxQQ29SgFNkmnaiX5T-x3mCEErguSBFhk2ef_umtVu4Ffsu1qrBXeYQaDuvW6FN_RKXtoyjqIX0wPmZ06xw2FhrdquKJ7BY/s1600/101115b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The endemic Chatham Island Pigeon has a length of 55 cm, which make it to one of the largest pigeons in the world.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cii5x_31SVr14tF-M_OLqMXj0B8k7RakxnCBq2rDwM8KGCeQsxtEl2H1nHSE3oxPa0srnAXt89rXSnNJfRj5mUCBcsF5jU04HJqzOjxPWWMm8xVXgl-sqjBM1IS07s1A4bTyLyGOjcA/s1600/101115c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cii5x_31SVr14tF-M_OLqMXj0B8k7RakxnCBq2rDwM8KGCeQsxtEl2H1nHSE3oxPa0srnAXt89rXSnNJfRj5mUCBcsF5jU04HJqzOjxPWWMm8xVXgl-sqjBM1IS07s1A4bTyLyGOjcA/s1600/101115c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Chatham Island Pigeon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynwgSS1SCeCrrvwH-sKTKzGNYneJqBRv6ijNnfZMIlK2NoVbmJ9QvXOaRT2JPgYonVyY85eUG-pemJ6LlZy0yG9d1xwTl_RpJm-LVtOhhqnyEDywCavBu61_hgkL94GHr-wvonufupX0/s1600/101115d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynwgSS1SCeCrrvwH-sKTKzGNYneJqBRv6ijNnfZMIlK2NoVbmJ9QvXOaRT2JPgYonVyY85eUG-pemJ6LlZy0yG9d1xwTl_RpJm-LVtOhhqnyEDywCavBu61_hgkL94GHr-wvonufupX0/s1600/101115d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of the Nikau Bush reserve at the northern part of island.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-lxCr9gcRBJriyjOdsYY32CwlmpKSa4Tm6V7ZfazA_vroFR7CIKUm0FnG4xbf8JJbajneENPgZB-n1-MZWfPiWK5gTYMmWctmPz-BhQxOc4LmUCoM2c1YoXf4IFK99opkEisTay_ud8/s1600/101115e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-lxCr9gcRBJriyjOdsYY32CwlmpKSa4Tm6V7ZfazA_vroFR7CIKUm0FnG4xbf8JJbajneENPgZB-n1-MZWfPiWK5gTYMmWctmPz-BhQxOc4LmUCoM2c1YoXf4IFK99opkEisTay_ud8/s1600/101115e.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely Chatham Island Fantail sitting upside down and looking down at me as it spread its tail!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dkwWMh1ZjaD3cOOTXG9zCxMYRlTyd6bPNgPXCiiyef6Vr2GAvu1Tx2Lb6FmT_hzSc6WQgLdQbXoUCpsgM2MeiPJWJPzXltzxX5NO6E74H-VT1_0EaDGopZNoiSLh7AvpsQbkVAg84FM/s1600/101115f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dkwWMh1ZjaD3cOOTXG9zCxMYRlTyd6bPNgPXCiiyef6Vr2GAvu1Tx2Lb6FmT_hzSc6WQgLdQbXoUCpsgM2MeiPJWJPzXltzxX5NO6E74H-VT1_0EaDGopZNoiSLh7AvpsQbkVAg84FM/s1600/101115f.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The untouched beach at Wharekauri.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-G0lBrU0nt3jJvuTYA14JH1jRvepatzmWqv0KtVL7b0FGi9jo9tohgO6ZCr8ew77WbGykwPpi6QxXKZeJtwDDUFZZ5IJUk8cRHGwlX9fd9IJpg9p0V87rSL5PZt96qkszUbHmDdnWVQY/s1600/101115g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-G0lBrU0nt3jJvuTYA14JH1jRvepatzmWqv0KtVL7b0FGi9jo9tohgO6ZCr8ew77WbGykwPpi6QxXKZeJtwDDUFZZ5IJUk8cRHGwlX9fd9IJpg9p0V87rSL5PZt96qkszUbHmDdnWVQY/s1600/101115g.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The endemic Chatham Island Oystercatcher.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkrmLuUyXNwSFm1nmPdLqXprqitkO35FNrBV6Wgu2GlXEWpA9K1WO7DgJ7NEIMkVP53nUcInrsNLH9M4JUCDg050Mkk2Bj9U5lvufcY01-Cf7-vUtgcQXjW-TBsoWjA9Vkk9LXz5_Ftg/s1600/101115h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkrmLuUyXNwSFm1nmPdLqXprqitkO35FNrBV6Wgu2GlXEWpA9K1WO7DgJ7NEIMkVP53nUcInrsNLH9M4JUCDg050Mkk2Bj9U5lvufcY01-Cf7-vUtgcQXjW-TBsoWjA9Vkk9LXz5_Ftg/s1600/101115h.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of several Northern Giant Petrels that flew by close to shore at Wharekauri. Imagine these birds are two metres between their wingtips. Note the huge bill.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDzgzQDsnQpX5VhS5ZwlZOKvZtuFsMyWCtjkFg3yPopo1qtGZr_mhkk1tnOGnZscBA_IYJArZ5C09TN2IzzoTr44I-G0V3cv_Ju98ZLhMSQyyNNfYfoolIjOvNZOzb-55Ktfs8XuMVIE/s1600/101115i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDzgzQDsnQpX5VhS5ZwlZOKvZtuFsMyWCtjkFg3yPopo1qtGZr_mhkk1tnOGnZscBA_IYJArZ5C09TN2IzzoTr44I-G0V3cv_Ju98ZLhMSQyyNNfYfoolIjOvNZOzb-55Ktfs8XuMVIE/s1600/101115i.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Angela and Bruce at Wharekauri beach. Very windy indeed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqYFIuBXNUYBvb1rv8j5h5-529VDjy27xAazoMJf0vAfEWwCJjaU1foTIChJPi29tBS1ZxD5IEBzC1t-YXygDgaL1v0Gvb7De97j6ANEL4wFD-ZYnSg697DjM8jUKUKB1rugGxKqayYw/s1600/101115j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqYFIuBXNUYBvb1rv8j5h5-529VDjy27xAazoMJf0vAfEWwCJjaU1foTIChJPi29tBS1ZxD5IEBzC1t-YXygDgaL1v0Gvb7De97j6ANEL4wFD-ZYnSg697DjM8jUKUKB1rugGxKqayYw/s1600/101115j.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">View towards the northwestern part and Petre Bay in far background to right.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pitt Island</span></b><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I woke up early in the morning and quickly checked the weather outside. Wow, scattered clouds and just a soft breeze, meaning it will be a perfect day for a journey to Pitt Island in the south! We spoke to Val and he told us to be at the air strip about 9am. Bruce, Angela and myself drove slowly towards the airport and had several stops enjoying the lovely morning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We arrived on time to the airport where Ben were ready with his little aircraft. Usually, the minimum for a Pitt Island tour is four persons, but Val and Bernie (the guide on Pitt Island) were very kind and arranged a guided tour for the three of us. The flight to Pitt Island over the Chatham Islands western coastline were amazing as were the journey over the Pitt Island. We landed on a grassy strip on the southern part. Bernie were awaiting us and a couple of Tui researchers (Sam and Sara) were to return from two weeks on Rangatira (South East Island) and Pitt Island respectively. Bernie took us to the southern parts. I were able to seawatch for half an hour at the strait between Pitt and Rangatira, which produced Cape Pigeon (12), Buller’s Albatross (7), a most probably Chatham Albatross, Sooty Shearwaters, Brown Skua (10) and Northern Giant Petrel (6). Then we headed to Pitt Islands highest point with an awesome view in all directions and especially towards the Mangere Islands. After this breathtaking experience we had a delicious lunch of crayfish and paua patties at Bernie’s Flowerpot Lodge. Then we headed to the Caravan reserve where we spent the whole afternoon. What a lovely forest! It has been a reserve for about twenty years and hold good numbers of native and endemic species and subspecies. We saw about 20 Chatham Island Gerygone (warbler), which is a full endemic specie. Subspecies confined to the Chathams: five Tomtits, 15 Tuis, 10 Fantails, 5 Red-crowned Parakeets. The Chatham Petrels burrows within the reserve were empty. At 5pm it was time to get back to Chatham Island. On the return Ben flew along the southern and western coastline of Chatham. Very scenic!</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back at the Beach house we were welcomed by Sam and Sara. Angela cooked a delicious last supper as I were about to leaving the next morning. We had a peaceful evening and it was nice to get acquainted with Sam and Sara. Sam let me hear different songs of Tui, which differ between Chathams and the mainland, that he had recorded. Sara showed me awesome photos of Black Robins from her stay on Rangatira!</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Wednesday morning I took farewell of Bruce and Angela, which felt a bit sad as I like them very much and we had have a good visit together. At 10:15am I left Chathams for Wellington. Back to civilization and new adventures.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hsJ4Ze9I-tppXNDlhJvsXmDYOt7WtqccQe9eLd3FD4j9t5Dv6AZCBZ5K7YER9tM90TRtoXUkb5gOFesrRk1w9XFoPOCB68dyYMkndNZTSnaocnKZiSFuV0eq92raNWnKSbOdLabrhOw/s1600/101116aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hsJ4Ze9I-tppXNDlhJvsXmDYOt7WtqccQe9eLd3FD4j9t5Dv6AZCBZ5K7YER9tM90TRtoXUkb5gOFesrRk1w9XFoPOCB68dyYMkndNZTSnaocnKZiSFuV0eq92raNWnKSbOdLabrhOw/s1600/101116aa.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of Te Whanga Lagoon. Almost as smooth as a mirror.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58v2pgA064TPsNOtF6TIJzNVAEjkGI_e-h3EBpGF8LytSIvM3ZXvMI1sodAU2MQ_RxlRJTXMgFhMGYwUu6QE2lMeZ8AoD6HSCrFeKqYqFSZ7Mi3WM7gs6CD4s6Ux98zR0VnB3cz3WTEI/s1600/101116a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58v2pgA064TPsNOtF6TIJzNVAEjkGI_e-h3EBpGF8LytSIvM3ZXvMI1sodAU2MQ_RxlRJTXMgFhMGYwUu6QE2lMeZ8AoD6HSCrFeKqYqFSZ7Mi3WM7gs6CD4s6Ux98zR0VnB3cz3WTEI/s1600/101116a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ready for a flight to Pitt Island. The weather conditions were just perfect and not much of a wind. From left: Bruce, Angela and the pilot Ben.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AltaU3ThCdjNy8gOajztqviyyb5IfoP6fwFyYdbzXGrTEqSYSJ1pF0Edu2U0V3YERIBdv8QQWYNh9y0RfR4Nj0flWZeCB__zqI6QIw74lj9CPGL0AhRDoQosaUlrs6kPtnRpn-ZIGhc/s1600/101116b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AltaU3ThCdjNy8gOajztqviyyb5IfoP6fwFyYdbzXGrTEqSYSJ1pF0Edu2U0V3YERIBdv8QQWYNh9y0RfR4Nj0flWZeCB__zqI6QIw74lj9CPGL0AhRDoQosaUlrs6kPtnRpn-ZIGhc/s1600/101116b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mangere Island (right) and Little Mangere Island (left). Mangere is the main home for the Black Robin, which was rescued from near extinction. A very interesting and happy story indeed.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9t3e0gXTlxAwJHIbWoTchSfFBLm2yL8HH7XQJR_ew9AhSlVWMWvG-SJGgF36FNDHG7Fgb_fnkt4rknt8ETskI2ER5s_lEyue3l-yZUE-4ydkqPifAWI_SLabHM1bAowH3B4elTmJrh8/s1600/101116c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9t3e0gXTlxAwJHIbWoTchSfFBLm2yL8HH7XQJR_ew9AhSlVWMWvG-SJGgF36FNDHG7Fgb_fnkt4rknt8ETskI2ER5s_lEyue3l-yZUE-4ydkqPifAWI_SLabHM1bAowH3B4elTmJrh8/s1600/101116c.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rangitira (South East Island), the home for thousands of breeding seabirds and the endangered Black Robin, which has been transferred from the main site Mangere Island.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAkqXXJgEPvbiYkKOi7tl43X0XTSBIopvHxR3bnb-rWlmnA6fjS02RxdSbIR_kldH8XBg1aQVcWfiJZ_rKlTNLTrEeZMuNZ-m3axtccg54Iufc3pViVkRYi0JaXfZSB3Hs746f1krJq4/s1600/101116d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAkqXXJgEPvbiYkKOi7tl43X0XTSBIopvHxR3bnb-rWlmnA6fjS02RxdSbIR_kldH8XBg1aQVcWfiJZ_rKlTNLTrEeZMuNZ-m3axtccg54Iufc3pViVkRYi0JaXfZSB3Hs746f1krJq4/s1600/101116d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Pyramid Island, the only breeding site for the Chatham Albatross!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmyWRROH2nBo9oh1gXF-gsjv25HqQj_gHWYmmS3cEheE1KdYmQ1T03oWv-uKAsvTtudfp-tpseizFyKCUE9rMUEFXbM_UHIqc5oYd8u4_ALh3H_bXGEXtJ2_lwCZpR8uMqHXEX2gsmOs/s1600/101116e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmyWRROH2nBo9oh1gXF-gsjv25HqQj_gHWYmmS3cEheE1KdYmQ1T03oWv-uKAsvTtudfp-tpseizFyKCUE9rMUEFXbM_UHIqc5oYd8u4_ALh3H_bXGEXtJ2_lwCZpR8uMqHXEX2gsmOs/s1600/101116e.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Impossible to describe the beautiful forest within the Caravan reserve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85JY3UDj_xVLUMuYJSDjJ380YAgb2yizhgJ6yKnN2Bj4XlXInDtjrON7JRlRR4Drlc_2UPSnGYQSq4f3QYWcgK5SiiGL3-P36B8KFxNsqUpgw8jf_zwvB9hhxRwVRhOL14c4BExiEZXQ/s1600/101116f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85JY3UDj_xVLUMuYJSDjJ380YAgb2yizhgJ6yKnN2Bj4XlXInDtjrON7JRlRR4Drlc_2UPSnGYQSq4f3QYWcgK5SiiGL3-P36B8KFxNsqUpgw8jf_zwvB9hhxRwVRhOL14c4BExiEZXQ/s1600/101116f.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely male Chatham Tomtit at Caravan reserve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4OS7R4yIQLBRcVz_yHeWMCnMZZaKEfH9YHhBAciUKzENWqRHBOHGDA1Cqu3WnbBCxblXUY6shqm5M7RiVzLkS8PclYDUGYRbxFNptXbfY_HQfK_GfvTvoy-7ss8V7ereXF6d2c0lxLM/s1600/101116g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4OS7R4yIQLBRcVz_yHeWMCnMZZaKEfH9YHhBAciUKzENWqRHBOHGDA1Cqu3WnbBCxblXUY6shqm5M7RiVzLkS8PclYDUGYRbxFNptXbfY_HQfK_GfvTvoy-7ss8V7ereXF6d2c0lxLM/s1600/101116g.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Female (known by the colour-rings) Tui feeding on the Chatham Flax at Caravan reserve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQXlQdEoSYjCEQzksdir6wCvBUey2MlTUxcp_AoZ_8lHrOhDH1mFbS6sfaNJEn-os4th2cnAQXUNLlZUak0BfEC2IjLfbJDGSYCIl328-QNkYc5nUcHGCm6GG3iNtlzJh8pCumQ5hVGk/s1600/101116gg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQXlQdEoSYjCEQzksdir6wCvBUey2MlTUxcp_AoZ_8lHrOhDH1mFbS6sfaNJEn-os4th2cnAQXUNLlZUak0BfEC2IjLfbJDGSYCIl328-QNkYc5nUcHGCm6GG3iNtlzJh8pCumQ5hVGk/s1600/101116gg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Juvenile Chatham Gerygone (Warbler) at the Caravan reserve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-v4N9yEnh9duHYEYfyKPGoDRxQJHGoT5-Vr0CtVhsQzMR1rxMMTycUqT4HJfKdiZS1qhqBIISc5QOgPPbtwfh5UWDO8xwApS9UmwEq6Zk5zAPOZ8SEWheRw7p4-mERPku_B4MLpumx8/s1600/101116h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-v4N9yEnh9duHYEYfyKPGoDRxQJHGoT5-Vr0CtVhsQzMR1rxMMTycUqT4HJfKdiZS1qhqBIISc5QOgPPbtwfh5UWDO8xwApS9UmwEq6Zk5zAPOZ8SEWheRw7p4-mERPku_B4MLpumx8/s1600/101116h.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of Pitt Island from the air on our return.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8xrJjvmuDdd5qDsR9vfdqyQzGR0dPT2nZWUMRbzHcUC6FmfwWv-K8XUmNhmZt11rd1pkk_AU4wVIqm8zqujcLhsSTujvmGixPc3Scg4k4sqyi93JKMnDFY-3tbStmye175BE-hkQybw/s1600/101116i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8xrJjvmuDdd5qDsR9vfdqyQzGR0dPT2nZWUMRbzHcUC6FmfwWv-K8XUmNhmZt11rd1pkk_AU4wVIqm8zqujcLhsSTujvmGixPc3Scg4k4sqyi93JKMnDFY-3tbStmye175BE-hkQybw/s1600/101116i.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of the southern coastline of Chatham Island seen on our return.</span></td></tr>
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</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>Niklas Holmströmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822128785355879011noreply@blogger.com2