Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve

The Pauatahanui wildlife reserve is becoming a great haven on Wellingtons doorstep for wetland birds. The pest eradication campaigns by DOC and Fores & Bird are showing great results which has enabled fernbirds to be translocated and established as well as other rare wetland birds such as the spotless crake and banded rail now turning up and moving in.

I got the chance to spend a couple of mornings here during a recent visit to Wellington and though I didn't manage to see the spotless crakes or banded rail I had a great couple of mornings with my camera.  I was particualry pleased to get some photos of the elusive fernbirds (matata) thanks very much to the local guidance of Tony Fluerty anf Helen Duncan who I met on consecutive mornings

Heres my collection of photos tarting with the fernbirds.

A fernbird hiding in the scrub.

My best shot of a fernbird - almost fully out in the open.

Got him - peeping out.

This piwakawaka (fantail) had plenty to sing about as the sun came up.

A female mallard lit by the morning sun.

A group of 4 young black shag (kawau).

Two of the juvenile black shag.

I love the colours in this dawn shot of a poaka (pied stilt) in one of the pools.

Another shot of the poaka/pied stilt and its reflection

A pair of putangitangi/paradise shelduck.

A female sparrow in the flax catching the warm light of the morning sun.

Another piwakawaka/fantail singing away.

Final shot of a piwakawaka before heading round tot he point to look for kingfisher.

This is a great spot to see kingfisher hunting for mudcrabs - though they were a bit far away for a really good shot.

Kingfisher/kotare on a rock in the mudflats.

A mud crab.  I couldn't believe the number of mud crans that popped up out of the mud when everything was still and quiet, then ran for cover at the slightest movement.