Adventures in Birding - Bush Birds of Banks Peninsula

We have been having an exceptionally sunny April here in Christchurch. Due to the amazing weather we managed to squeeze in a couple of days of birding on Banks Peninsula where there are some accessible stands of native bush (see map below). Here is a brief report of some of the native birds that we sighted at the Hinewai Reserve and Peraki Valley during April 2016.

April 16, 2016 - Hinewai Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary

The Hinewai Nature Reserve is privately owned and can be accessed via Long Bay Rd off of Hwy #76 just before Akaroa. The manager of the reserve is Hugh Wilson, Esq., who we had the pleasure of meeting while bird watching there one afternoon. Hugh is an extremely friendly chap and happily chatted with us about birds and also about how the native bush is slowly out-competing the widespread infestation of invasive gorse in the reserve. 

We only walked a short ways into the reserve as it was getting late in the afternoon. We did enjoy some good birding but dipped on the brown creeper.

There is a short walk to scenic lookout at the start of the Hinewai Nature Reserve.

Lovely native bush track at Hinewai

Native birds sighted at Hinewai:

• Kereru / Wood pigeon;
• Bellbird;
• Silvereye;
• Gray warbler; 
• Tomtit; and
• Fantail.

All amazing bird photos posted with permission from Mike Ashbee. Please visit www.mikeashbeephotography.com to see more exquisite nature photography!

Friendly Bellbird

Kereru or Wood Pigeon

Silvereye (or Waxeye)

A handsome tomtit

We also found a friendly fantail inside of the Duvauchelle Dairy!

April 29, 2016 - Peraki Valley

Mike and I joined a day trip into the Peraki Valley with the Canterbury chapter of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. The area may only be accessed with permission and can be reached by taking Kinloch Road off Hwy #75 just before reaching Little River. The farmers at Peraki Station were very friendly and let us collect a bag of fresh walnuts to take home!

We did a bit of birding at the Peraki Saddle Scenic Reserve and then ventured down to Peraki Station to scan a small patch of native bush adjacent to the paddock. Finally, I got my bins on Brown creeper! Alas, we dipped on our target bird: Rifleman.

View of Devil's Gap from Peraki Saddle Scenic Reserve

Mike made a new friend at Peraki Station

Red Admiral butterfly enjoying the exceptionally sunny April afternoon

Native birds sighted at Peraki:

• Kereru / Wood pigeon;
• Silvereye;
• Tomtit;
• Bellbird;
• Fantail;
• Gray warbler;
• Brown creeper;
• Welcome swallow;
• Paradise shell duck;
• Spur-winged plover;
• Swamp harrier;
• Black-backed gull;
• Red-billed gull;
• White-faced heron; and
• Australian magpie;

We were treated to a quick stop at Peraki Bay, which used to be an old whaling station.

Beautiful day at Peraki Bay

The month of April gave us two great days spent birding in the native bush on Banks Peninsula. I will have to come back soon because I am still on the hunt for the elusive Rifleman.

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