Ulva Island

Recently I had the opportunity spend some time on Ulva Island in Patersons Inlet, Stewart Island New Zealand.

My aim was to photograph as many birds that lived on the island as possible. I came away disappointed in not seeing a kiwi but hearing them on numerous occasions and seeing where they had been on the beaches.

Below is a selection of not only birds but some other interesting fauna as well.

South Island Kaka Nestor meridonalis

These large raucous parrots seem to be the dominant species in the bush although the tuis have been seen to defend their territory with some vigour.

These birds with their powerful beaks can be seen stripping the bark off trees looking for insects like wetas to feed on.

Red-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae

Yellow-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki)  Cyanoramphus auriceps

A nicely composed shot but some preening would have been desirable
before "posing".

South Island Robin (Toutouwai) Petroica australis

The South Island Robin abounds here and they are very friendly and not afraid to get quite close. They like following you as you disturb the leaf litter on the tracks allowing small insects to be caught and eaten.

South Island Tomtit Petroica macrocephala

Yellowhead (Mohua) Mohua ochrocephala

This photo has some noise as ISO was at 6400 to compensate for the fact that it was overcast and quite dark and also the fact that these birds are quite active and move rapidly. This was one of a small flock of around 6 birds on the forest floor about 10 m away.

However one of the Yellowheads came a sat on a small bush about 2 m aways for a good minute so or so but remained with the distracting small branch in front. I have not attempted to "photoshop" it out as I believe that photos should show what it was actually like at the time. I do, however crop most photos to remove some of the distractions and to better frame the subject, but little other processing has occurred. 

Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

South Island Saddleback (Tieke) Philesturnis carunculatus

Saddlebacks spend most of their time close to the forest floor and thrive here on the predatory free island. There were many of them about and numerous young birds were seen.

Juvenile Saddleback

Adult Saddleback

The above bird was on the path a few metres away from the wharf and seemed happy to allow me to get quite close.

Feeding time

Bell Bird (Korimako)

These nectar feeders were elusive but there song gave their presence away.

This first photo was taken deep in the bush with limited light, hence high ISO and lots of noise in it. They have curved beaks and long tongues. I've included this photo because the tongue is evident.

Taken at Westend Beach.

I have a much better Korimako photo taken at the White Heron colony near Whataroa.

Kereru (NZ Wood pigeon)

These heavy berry feeders don't make much noise and keep very still often resting on branches a few metres above ground. Several times they startled me as I didn't see them until they flew away as I walked underneath. Their swooshing sound of the wings when flying are very distinct.

Oyster catcher

These birds squawk loudly to advertise their territory on the beach. The same pairs of birds don't go very far away and can be guaranteed to be seen in the same places on following days.

Red billed gull

Hooker sealions.

These large mammals are frequent visitors to Stewart Island. They come up from the breeding colonies on Auckland Island. The Department of Conservation has signs on all the tracks leading to the beaches on Ulva Island to warn visitors not to get too close to them.

Get too close and this is the reaction. They have bad breathe too.

Early one morning on Sydney Cove we were surprised by this one bursting unseen out of the water. They can move surprisingly fast for such a large animal. Fortunately he flopped down on all fours after a few metres - but not before my companions retreated rapidly.

Thanks to Alan and Ian who then did a great impression of an animated scarecrow because he promptly turned around and headed back to the water.

A disdainful look before slipping back into the water.

Wetas

New Zealand has around 70 weta species. some are up to 5-10cm long. I found several, I think 3 different species in a wood pile. Whilst getting my camera ready, a weka appeared and waited until I had finished then picked one up and took it away.

This one was about 15-20 mm long with longer feelers.

Wetas have a characteristic long spiked "tail"

Weka

A very common ground bird endemic around most parts of New Zealand. Some tourists have mistaken them for kiwi!

Adult weka, they were everywhere on Ulva.

The weka have had a successful breeding season and many chicks were seen all over the island. Wetas form an important part of the food chain and those from the wood pile were quickly taken away by the parents to their nearby chicks.

Weka chick

This concludes my selection of birds and other animals from my visit to Ulva Island. My next step is to collect together my Top 10 bird photos from here and elsewhere including a recent trip to the White heron colony at Whataroa.

More wildlife photos of trips to Somes Island and South Canterbury are linked here. Also there is a selection of 10 top bird photos. Birds and animals from safaris in Tanzania, Africa can be found here.

Somes Island

We recently spent a few hours on Somes/Matiu Island in the middle of Wellington Harbour on Christmas Eve 2018.

The cross harbour ferry departs from Days Bay and calls into Somes Island on some trips across to the CBD at Queens Wharf. Convenient departures from both sides of the harbour allow for a good 5 or 6 hours on the island although at least two visits would be needed to see all there is to see and do on the island.

Originally a quarantine station, and prisoner of war camp in WW1, the island is now a predator free sanctuary for some of New Zealand's endangered species. Managed by The Department of Conservation, DOC, strict measures are taken to prevent foreign plants (eg. seeds) and animals (eg. mice) from entering Somes Island.

Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints is a good place to start, apart for your lunch and drink bottles.

Wellington Harbour entrance from Somes Island.

Somes Island supports many species of birds, both endemic and introduced which flourish in the predator free environment. The chaffinch below seemed to be watching the ferry enter the harbour too.

Male chaffinch

As there are large areas of grasses covering the island, seed eating species can be seen readily. The chaffinch was introduced into New Zealand in the 1860s, originally in Nelson.

Looking north towards Petone.

Blackbacked gulls nest on the island. Just a few metres from the track from the ferry to the info centre near the top of the island, we found the first nest.

Nesting gull.

Thousands of skinks inhabit the island. We saw hundreds sunning themselves along the tracks.

Whilst waiting for the ferry to go home, we walked along to the site of the degaussing station which was setup in WW2 to protect ships from German magnetic mines. A commotion at the side of the track drew attention to there fact that we had disturbed a nesting gull which immediately set up up a distraction away from the nest.

Upset disturbed gull

Camouflaged blackbacked gull eggs.

Not wanting to have the incubating egg unattended for too long we moved on to the remains of the degaussing station of which not much is left. 

On returning quietly the gull was back keeping her eggs warm.

Back on the nest.

I've kept the best to last. 

One of the only reptiles to survive the Cretaceous extinction which wiped out the dinosaurs is the tuatara, endemic to New Zealand. It has almost disappeared from the mainland but survives on predator free offshore islands. Somes Island being one of them.

Although we had seen tuatara before at the museum in Invercargill and at Zelandia we were thrilled to see some sunning themselves in a their natural (unmanaged) environment.

A young tuatara, possibly 30-40 years old judging by its size.

A much older, fully grown specimen, maybe 80-100 years old.

Provided one does not make any noise or sudden movement, you can get reasonably close (1-2 metres in this case) and they will stay there soaking up the heat from the sun.

This photo is not cropped and taken with a 100mm macro lens on a
Canon 80D.