Thread: Birds

We have had our first black-variant fantail here. I've seen it several times in the garden over the past month and will try and get a photo or two to post here — if it will just stay still long enough. Apparently it is rare to find them in the North Island, and while less so in the South, they still make up only 4% of the population.

Has anyone else come across any Black Fantails in the lower North Island, and if so, any pics please ?

Originally Posted by Shearer

Game camera photo from 200m above our house
Attachment 166716

Cool.

Originally Posted by Puffin

We have had our first black-variant fantail here. I've seen it several times in the garden over the past month and will try and get a photo or two to post here — if it will just stay still long enough. Apparently it is rare to find them in the North Island, and while less so in the South, they still make up only 4% of the population.

Has anyone else come across any Black Fantails in the lower North Island, and if so, any pics please ?

Be cool if you can get a pic

Originally Posted by Puffin

We have had our first black-variant fantail here. I've seen it several times in the garden over the past month and will try and get a photo or two to post here — if it will just stay still long enough. Apparently it is rare to find them in the North Island, and while less so in the South, they still make up only 4% of the population.

Has anyone else come across any Black Fantails in the lower North Island, and if so, any pics please ?

I didn't know there were variants, as an avid bird watcher and amateur photographer phone cam and trail cams I will keep my eyes peeled now and keep you posted @Puffin.

My nephew & partner found the following on their return home — presumably brought in by their cat in their absence. It flew around the house fine on its way to being flushed back outside, and appeared unharmed by the whole ordeal.

Be careful where you roost seems to be the lesson here.

ive never had a camera when iv seen a NZ falcon at close range - and still havent!!! But i managed to get close enough to get these with my cell phone.
Got reasonable close by staying in the truck and just casually driving forward and edging closer to the post. Wasnt happy about me tho!

I saw these birds yesterday while doing a trap line at the Quarry – I thought they looked a bit special – a duck hunter friend tells me they are a good example of Grey Ducks with very little sign of Mallard hybridization
Heavy rain flushes out unusual sediments from the old Quarry and the water turns almost white for a few days.

Originally Posted by time out

I saw these birds yesterday while doing a trap line at the Quarry – I thought they looked a bit special – a duck hunter friend tells me they are a good example of Grey Ducks with very little sign of Mallard hybridization
Heavy rain flushes out unusual sediments from the old Quarry and the water turns almost white for a few days.

Attachment 172085

yes they are definitely grey ducks I have one on my wall and aren't very common in our area.

Originally Posted by BeeMan

I didn't know there were variants, as an avid bird watcher and amateur photographer phone cam and trail cams I will keep my eyes peeled now and keep you posted @Puffin.

we get quite a few of them around here...funny though I said as much to work mate and can never see them when he is around.

Was muttering to myself, wondering why I carry a camera around in the bush, seeing nothing to photograph when this ruru swooped over me down the track. Stepped around a tree and there he was, sitting on a branch above the track. Stayed while I took 20 odd photos. Made my day. This was about midday.

Originally Posted by Dusty Fog

thats him,the bird that may have taken my swaros

If I’d known earlier I would have questioned it ��

Originally Posted by Dusty Fog

thats a fat pukeko, what did it taste like?

Takahe?

Originally Posted by Dusty Fog

thats a fat pukeko, what did it taste like?

They are faster than they look