2022 Tiritiri Matangi Holiday - Day 4

I woke up super early at 5.30am as I was keen to see if I could find a good place to experience the dawn chorus after yesterday’s failed attempt. Today I had a new plan, I would head down to where the nectar feeder is located near the end of the wattle track. My theory is that the bellbird’s and hihi’s which use the feeder during the day should be around as the sun comes up.

I got up, grabbed my touch, water and headed out. I also hoped I would spot either a kiwi or Moorpork / Ruru while it was still dark. I heard some Ruru in the distance but didn’t see anything.

I settled down in the dark just before 6am at the bird feeder as the sun slowly began to rise. I did hear the odd bird and the sun was well and truly shinning down by 6.30 and still nothing, by 6.45am I was thinking this is clearly not going to work.

Then I heard a single bellbird, as I was starting to consider going back to the bunkhouse when suddenly within a couple of minutes there was a loud chorus of many bellbirds. Normally at the bird feeder you might see 5 – 10 birds, whereas I saw around 30 – 50 birds, and over the next 5 minutes they began to sing and what a racket. It was really like going back in time to hear this loud amazing sound of NZ’s birds. I have read stories of early European Settlers having trouble sleeping due to the dawn chorus and I was able to experience what they meant – another special moment to add this Tiri holiday. On the walk back I did hear the odd amazing Kokako haunting call through the bush as well.

What I learnt from this experience is that birds, like many people I know like to sleep in and don’t get up when the sun starts to rise but actually wake up and start singing when the sun is truly up, and that the place to hear the dawn chorus is near the nectar bird feeders.

Great news yet again the ferry was cancelled!, and two people people left today on a water taxi so there was only two other people staying in the bunkhouse who we don’t even see so it is really like Tiri is just for us today

Robin’s foot was much better this morning so both boys and I to did the bird troughs but were joined by Chippy the DOC ranger who turned up as he had a special treat for us today, he let us feed the takahē!

It was quite funny to see this rare and endangered bird waddling along at full speed when the DOC ranger shook the container with the pellets in it. Robin got to pour the pellets into a white container and then the five takahē all tried to stick their heads into this small space at the same to get to the pellets. I have been seeing this amazing rare bird a number of times this week but not within a meter like this completely ignoring us; the boys were so excited.

Afterwards we headed out to spend the next couple of hours cleaning and refilling the water troughs. Robin joined in and helped for those around the lighthouse and then as his foot was getting sore he went back to the bunkhouse while Luke and went around the wattle track doing the further away troughs – nice to spend quality time with Luke, he is so positive and enthusiastic and as always he had a lot to talk about.

After lunch we headed down to Hobbs Beach, with Julianne and Robin joining us as their foot injures are better and it is a good 30 minute walk to the beach, with of course all these rare endangered birds flying around us.

At the beach Luke and I jumped straight into the water while Julianne and Robin started collecting rubbish of the beach. It’s amazing how Luke has gone from the beginning of the week to only being able to float in the water for a few seconds after I help get him into position and catch him afterwards through to today where he can get himself to float and right himself afterwards all by himself. He is so proud of himself, and so he should be.

Again we had the fantastic Hobbs beach all to ourselves which is just surreal as it is normally full of day trippers to the island.

After a good long swim I relaxed on the beach, then the whole family went for a walk around the far end of the beach along several bays clambering over the rocks. Having been to Tiri a number of times in the past it was great to explore a part of the island I have never seen before, and it was pleasing to see Julianne’s foot holding up as well.

A view further around the island, with the end of whangaparaoa in the distance on the left.

I got to a point about equal distance from the wharf but in the opposite direction and had a great view further around the island.

View back Hobbs Beach and to the wharf in the far distance.

Luke and I then of course then headed back to Hobbs beach for another nice long swim while Julianne and Robin slowly headed back picking up heaps of rubbish, so much litter gets washed ashore it is really disappointing seeing what people are doing to the natural environment.

Just before 5pm we started heading back to the bunkhouse.

After dinner we played several board games and then at 9pm Robin, Luke & I headed out in the dark to see if we could find any kiwi. We walked down the road, to the Y junction to the wharf and headed back, just like last night but we didn’t see anything.

Luke then headed off to bed while Robin and I went for another explore. Robin and I went up to the lighthouse and then up the watchtower to see the view over the harbour in the dark with the odd light in the distance. On our way through the visitor centre courtyard I caught something flying right in front of my face, and I thought that must be a ruru / moorpork but I couldn’t spot it, but then Robin saw it sitting on a fencepost looking directly at us with its large yellow eyes. We then spent the next few minutes watching this owl swooping around the open courtyard which was really cool as normally they disappear into the trees but in the open courtyard it was easy to follow its flight with our touches, a quite unexpected and great activity.

We then headed down the road a bit, and we thought we caught a glimpse of a kiwi but it turned out to be a duck! A brown teal which was a surprise.

Then it was back to the bunkhouse for a good nights sleep after another great day on Tiri

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2022 Tiritiri Matangi Holiday - Day 4