Friday 11th January 2019

Off to one of the islands that has been cleared of all pests and vermin and now is a reserve –

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By a very comfortable bright orange catamaran –

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Photography was difficult as this once bare island is now covered with a very thick canopy. They have put a glass cover over a few of the nocturnal blue penguins –

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This is a dotterel on her nest which has been raised and protected to try and keep her safe from predators and the tide. We think it’s the New Zealand dotterel –

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Big fat New Zealand pigeon. They sometimes eat so much they can hardly fly!!!! –

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This lighthouse is the oldest working one in New Zealand and was brought over from Britain in pieces 150 years ago –

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This is a sunbathing Tui bird –

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A non sunbathing Tui –

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Here’s a little Whitehead in amongst the shrubbery –

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And this was amazing. A Morepork high in the canopy also known as a Ruru. Many thanks to a Korean gentleman who pointed him out to us –

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Down on the shore a variable oystercatcher –

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These Kakariki (parrots) were quite hard to photograph amongst the flax seed heads –

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A good day out and wonderful to see all the work being done to try and save all the endangered species and habitats.