obscurus's Identifications

The tip of the Otago Peninsula (off Dunedin) hosts the only mainland nesting colony of the threatened Royal Albatross. These tremendous birds have up to a 3-meter (yes, >9 ft) wingspan. The colony itself is accessible only via guided tour from the Royal Albatross Centre , although you can see birds on the wing (like this one) without taking the tour. This year there were ~half a dozen nesting pairs, plus the 'singles scene': unpaired birds soar and swoop above the colony at speeds up to 115 kph (70 mph), seeking the mate of their dreams. (Me, I've found mine now -- hence the honeymoon.) It's quite a sight (and not an easy shot)! They mate for life, not starting until ~age 15, and can live to over 60. A pair typically raises only 1 chick every 3 yrs: 11 wk to incubate the egg and 9 mo to raise the chick to fledging. Once the young bird takes off on its maiden flight, it will not touch dry land again for at least 2 years: it circumnavigates the Antarctic, feeding on the rich Southern Ocean. Its parents do likewise, and it probably takes them all 2 yrs to recover from the experience before they're ready to begin the cycle again!

This location also host the only nesting colony of the Otago Shag.

Pair behaving very territorial. Didn't see any chicks and didn't go looking for eggs/nest but breeding behaviour on overdrive. Marlene reported that they weren't behaving like that a week a go, so maybe they lost their first batch of eggs? Time will tell. There were no sign of dog prints on the spit so hopefully the new signs painted by students from Uruti School are working.

Looks like dotterel pair might try to nest at Mohakatino this year (they didn't last year).

Looks like it had been a busy weekend with dog and human prints leading up into the nesting area. Might have to rope the area off if the dotterels stick around.

Dotterel pair foraging near each other. They were a little bit defensive and protective as I approached a fenced off nesting area, but didn't appear to be nesting yet. Maybe very soon. Both eventually flew off together to the mudflats (direction of Whitford).

CLH looking good.

Original sighting courtesy of Chris Lloyd. Reported in the Birds Auckland facebook page https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1650980938365951
Photo credit Chris Lloyd.

CLH born in Piha late 2017, banded in Piha January 2018.