Some Birds At The Waiwhakaio River Mouth

One of my favourite locations for bird photography around New Plymouth is the Waiwhakaio river mouth. It's only a small wetland area but we get a good variety of birds here. Unfortunately the New Plymouth District Council are currently threatening to revoke the reserve status of some of this land and sell it off for housing development. Further urban encroachment will directly impact on the bird populations in this fragile area so if you live in New Plymouth I would encourage you to make a submission to the 10 year district plan opposing the two proposed funding schemes for flagship projects that require sale of reserve land (options 1 and 2, stated as "recylcing land" to raise capital funds)

The photos below were taken at dawn on Thursday 26th April. One of my best mornings down there with a pair of pied stilt and pair of herons both finding plenty of small fish to eat. The flood channel lying between the river and the sea has all but dried up at the moment so I guese the fish have now all been concentrated into the last bit of water.

Sunrise Over Te Rewa Rewa Bridge with a group of mallard on the river

A black shag catching the first light of the day

A mallard on the water.

A white faced heron (matuku moana) standing on an old log

A pair of pied stilt (poaka)

The NZ Sacred Kingfisher (Kotare) hunting over the water.

A pair of white faced heron (matuku moana). I saw these two catch a dozen fish between them within half an hour.

A black shag (kawau) flying low over the river.

Taranaki and Te Rewa Rewa bridge. If the council get their way this view will be lost.  The ridge line and trees in the centre of this frame (ie directly under the mountain), will be replaced by housing.