Thread: Birds

If passing through Whanganui and interested in the opportunity to get some photos of birds not often seen out in the hunting grounds, it is worthwhile taking a couple of hours to detour off SH3 to Bushy Park. This sanctuary is owned by F&B, but operated by the community–led Bushy Park Trust. Free admission! There often seem to be either fallow or goats on the side of the road just past the Brunswick Rd. turn-off on the way there if that is more your thing.

Below, a North Island Robin. Couldn't get one to stay quite still enough in the low light on my last visit, but there are plenty there to get that shutter-count up. The website estimates 600 or so over the 89 hectares.



Male Stitchbird. Best it seems to wait at the bird feeders for the Hihi (aptly named: ray of sun)



North Island Saddleback. They spend a lot of time foraging on or close to the ground at Bushy Park. They probably did outside Bush Park as well at one time, a contributor to their current conservation status one imagines. While photographing, several other parties of visitors came through gazing up into the canopy and were overheard commenting to each other on whether they would ever see any Saddleback at all, while the birds were almost at their feet.