HINEWAI, WAIWERA and KAITORETE SPIT
The focus of this trip is birdlife, however there is also stunning Banks Peninsula landscape.
Travel by bus to the Hinewai Nature Reserve on Banks Peninsula with guide Steve Attwood. Birds at Hinewai may include brown creeper (not seen in the North Island), NZ falcon, bellbirds, tomtit, grey warbler, rifleman, kingfishers and kereru. A packed lunch will be provided. On the return Waiwera and Kaitorete Spit/Birdlings Falt will provide locations for crested grebe among others.
Note suggestions from Steve Attwood: Late April is probably too tale to get the migrant waders as they likely will have already left, nevertheless there is some good birding of local species in and around the area. The North Islanders, in particular, would probably appreciate the crested grebe at Catons Bay on Wairewa and the brown creepers at Hinewai as they are species not seen in the North Island. Sightings of karearea/NZ falcon are also a realistic hope for Hinewai, along with bellbirds, tomtit, grey warbler, rifleman, kingfishers, kereru, etc.
Location 1
- Hinewai Reserve
Location 2
- Te Roto o Waiwera and Kaitorete Spit
Maximum of 29, in addition to 1 group leader, 1 guide (Steve Attwood), and possibly one assistant (track maintainer from Hinewai). This person and Steve would be picked up at Little River. Steve will invite Hugh Wilson to be present (apparently, he sometimes comes along to chat to people).
Timing: Leave St Margarets 0730, arrive Hinewai 0930. Birds at Hinewai until lunch whenever suits but possibly 1230-1300. Drive 1 hour to Te Roto o Waiwera (Crested Grebes at Caton’s Bay) then Birdlings Flat (approx. 2 hours in Waiwera/Birdlings Flat). Bus leaves for Christchurch just after 4pm, arrive St Margarets 5pm. Note the time at each location is flexible.
Maximum: 29
Estimated cost: $110 (includes packed lunch). To be confirmed prior to registrations opening.
