Banded rail - photo by Corinne Bowie The banded rail is another of the Whangamatā Harbours' rarely seen secretive species. They spend a large proportion of their days feeding close to and beneath the dense saltmarsh and mangrove vegetation along the harbour fringes. It is a member of the “rail” family which includes the much better known birds such as weka, pukeko and takahe. Previously inhabiting a wide variety of habitats throughout New Zealand and outlying islands it is now mainly...

Whangamatā Harbour Birds This protected, critically endangered species is present in very small numbers and seen only very occasionally in the freshwater wetlands adjoining the Whangamatā Harbour and the Otahu Estuary. They also occur in small numbers on the nearby Wharekawa Harbour wetlands, to the north of Whangamatā. Because of their cryptic plumage, secretive nature and habitat of feeding mainly at night, their presence often goes undetected. photo © copyright: Imogen Warren As well as...

Northern New Zealand Dotterel at rest in the sand. On Sunday 22 March, a post-breeding season count was carried out in Whangamatā on behalf of Birds New Zealand (South Auckland) . Alongside the dotterel count, a wider shorebird survey was also carried out, giving us a useful snapshot of birdlife around the harbour after the breeding season. Dotterel results This year’s count recorded: 83 Northern New Zealand dotterel 48 Banded dotterel roosting along the Whangamatā shoreline. We now have...