Hoteo River Trip, September 2006

We had a warm sunny spring day for our Hoteo River Trip on Sunday 24 September.  The day began with the 25 participants meeting for morning tea at the Glorit Hall.  Before the delicious morning tea prepared by Sharon Davies and Chris Bindon, we had an introduction to the Atuanui Restoration Project (Atuanui is a 615ha DOC Reserve on the Hoteo River, Atuanui Restoration Project ), from Suzi Phillips and a brief history of the Glorit area from local resident, Gill Adshead. Birds sighted from the river included many Tui feeding on the kowhai, as well as Kereru, Kahu, Kingfisher, Pied Shag, Black Shag, Mallard ducks, Eastern Rosella, Magpie, Starling, Silvereye, Blackbird, Grey Warbler, Myna, Chaffinch, White-faced Heron, Paradise Shelduck, Fantail, Welcome Swallow, House Sparrow, Spur-winged Plover, Caspian Tern, Shining Cuckoo (heard).  On our return downriver, our skipper had a treat for us with a trip under the Hoteo road bridge and out to the river-mouth into the open harbour.  We travelled (at  a less sedate pace!) out and around Moturemu Island and up the Tauhoa River to Stables Landing.   We flushed a group of seven Royal Spoonbill on the way up, so on our return we pottered quietly back down the river, and were able to see these stunning and beautiful large birds (Platalea regia) close up and in flight.  Birds on the open Kaipara were Royal Spoonbill (7), Black Swan (large flock), Black-backed Gulls, South Island Pied Oystercatchers, as well as more Pied Shags and a pair of Caspian Terns on Moturemu. A wonderful trip with a lovely group of people.
Loading the Amara: 1	Loading the Amara: 2
River trippers set off on the Hoteo River	Kowhai in flower on Atuanui
Kereru pair at Atuanui	Kauri and kowhai groves - Atuanui
Mangatutu Stream wetland - Atuanui	Amara at lunch stop
Fantail in apple blossom	Kowhai carpet - Atuanui
Surprised shags	Royal Spoonbills in flight: 1
Royal Spoonbills in flight above Tauhoa River	Royal Spoonbills in flight: 2
Royal Spoonbills getting airborne	Heading out onto the Kaipara All Photos copyright Suzi Phillips © 2006
Copyright © 2006-7, Kaipara Branch, Royal Forest and Bird Protection of New Zealand Inc. All rights reserved