New Zealand 2009

November 4th to 21st, 2009

Talon Tours Presents
"New Zealand 18 Day Birding Tour "
with Manu Tours

Talon Tours, in conjunction with Manu Tours of New Zealand, is pleased to announce this tour to the remote Pacific islands of New Zealand. During this eighteen-day exploration we will visit all three main islands plus some of the smaller islands devoted to the conservation of New Zealand’s endemic and endangered birds. For our 2008 tour we have added an extra day to allow the opportunity to find and view two more of New Zealand’s rare, endangered and very exotic Kiwi’s, the North Island Brown and the Great Spotted.

Our birding will begin with a drive up the eastern coast from Auckland in search of coastal wetland birds including the endemic New Zealand Dabchick and the very rare New Zealand subspecies of Fairy Tern. An important stop on our trip is Tiri Tiri Matangi Island, where visitors are welcomed to explore the avifauna of this successful attempt at restoring New Zealand’s endangered species. Here we will see the Takahe, a large six pound Rail, the Saddleback (Tieke), one of New Zealand’s two remaining ‘Wattlebirds’, Little Spotted Kiwi and the Stitchbird (Hihi), a rare endemic ‘honeyeater’.

Yellow-eyed Penguin © Ken Wilson

Our shorebirding will take place in two locations in the North Island, the first being Miranda, a well known ‘wintering’ spot for many northern hemisphere breeding birds such as Terek Sandpiper, Red-Necked Stint and Bar-Tailed Godwit (Kuaka. Amongst the many shorebirds present are New Zealand endemics such as New Zealand Dotterel (Tuturiwhatu) and the Wrybill with its distinctively shaped bill. Manawatu Estuary will be our last stop in the North Island to search out any shorebirds we may have missed at previous locations before departing for the South Island on the Interisland Ferry. Birding from the ferry provides an excellent opportunity to find pelagics such as Fairy Prion (Titi Wainui), Cape Petrel and Buller’s Mollymawk. Upon arriving in the Marlborough Sounds we will visit a colony of the rare and endangered King Shag and stop off at another island dedicated to conservation to view the South Island Robin and the South Island Saddleback.

Kaikoura provides an exciting pelagic opportunity with up close looks at Albatrosses, Mollymawks, Giant Petrels, Shearwaters and Petrels including both natives and endemics such as Buller’s Shearwater and Westland Petrel. The Southern Alps mountain range of the South Island provides opportunities to see the New Zealand Falcon (Karearea), endemic Black-Billed Gull, Black-Fronted Tern and Great Spotted Kiwi. In the lower elevation Beech Forests we will look for the Kaka, a forest parrot and a rare endemic passerine, the Yellowhead. Upon reaching higher elevations our search will center upon the mischievous Kea, a true mountain parrot, and the beautiful but elusive Rockwren. We have included Fiordland in our itinerary to allow views of the most spectacular scenery New Zealand has to offer. While cruising Milford Sound we may be fortunate enough to view Fiordland Crested Penguin. Our final island, Stewart Island, is a short flight away and home to the brazen Weka, a flightless Rail, Shining Cuckoo, a breeding migrant, and our goal bird, the nocturnal Brown Kiwi (Tokoeka). An exciting destination during this tour of these remarkable islands is Dunedin, a very Scottish settlement where we visit nesting Northern Royal Albatross, Stewart Island Shags and a colony of endemic Yellow-Eyed Penguins (Hoiho), one of the three species of penguin we normally encounter on this tour. Our tour ends in Christchurch.

ABOUT YOUR GUIDES:

Tony Wilson is the owner of Manu Tours, which he manages with his wife, Carol Harker. Tony lives in New Zealand where he has gained considerable experience guiding both land and pelagic birding tours. Tony has traveled extensively, birding throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the southern countries of Africa and many parts of Australia. When not leading tours and raising his two children, he is active with local bird conservation activities.

Ken Wilson, brother to Tony, is owner of Talon Tours. Ken has lead birding tours to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Galapagos Islands, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Born in New Zealand, he has lived in Australia, Great Britain and has resided in California, USA since 1974. Ken is active in local birding and conservation activities. When not leading tours he operates a residential landscape company specializing in habitat for wildlife.

COST
TBA