This morning we had six Deses. Also this evening, though four of em had a real go at ending themselves by leaping nonchalantly into the flooded creek (much to Ngaire's horror - I understand why she prefers them in this wee ephemeral pond). All was well in the end, phew. #nzbirds

It's molting a wee bit, but still, one mustn't complain when a red-crowned parakeet / kākāriki (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) poses so nicely. Shakespear Regional Park, Auckland.

#nzbirds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #NewZealand #parakeet

15. sunrise/early
#inktober #inktober2026 #acrylicink #inkpen #laserkiwi #nzbirds

And, one of the Goldie sisters hatched her clutch the other day and she's managed to keep all 8 so far. Which is frankly a miracle, seeing as she's a mallard. I think her boyfriend is helping out though. Interestingly none of them are yellow (Goldie was a yellow!!! chick) #nzbirds

My darling pūtangitangi ducklings are still thriving, and they're huge! Still 9 little Deses. They've mostly been in the creek, and I think it's safer as they're still being targeted by enemy females. Today one dive bombed them as I watched, rude. But Lefty saw her off. #nzbirds

One of the world's rarest ducks, the whio/blue duck, for #BirdOfTheDay #Ducks&GeeseinFlight.

Not my best pic – not even my best whio pic! But it'll have to do. #birds #nzbirds 🪶

11. harvest
laser kiwi!!!!!!
#inktober #inktober2026 #inkpen #acrylicink #laserkiwi #kiwi #nzbirds

This morning it was swimming in the creek practice for the little pūtangitangi Deses (still 9!). They'd managed to get the whole clan up a little waterfall even. Might pop back this evening to see if they're back at the pond. #nzbirds

Listen I'm a pūtangitangi fan account for the next little while. Do you blame me?
Seen here, two of the wee Deses try out grazing with ... Results. Ngaire and Lefty coach. The other Deses mill in the background. #nzbirds

10. footsteps
#inktober #inktober2026 #pukeko #nzbirds #acrylicink #inkpen

High density living - Australasian gannet / Tākapu (Morus serrator) style. Murawai, Auckland.

#nzbirds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #gannetcolony #NewZealand

Today we sat down with Ngaire, Lefty and the nine babies (all named Des) for half an hour. I got these 3 minutes of true pūtangitangi whānau ASMR - one clip is muted sorry because you really don't deserve to be subjected to the AI Parkrun songs. But otherwise lots of lovely Ngaire clucks #nzbirds

Okay would we want more pūtangitangi content then..? Here they are having swimming practice when we stopped in this afternoon. Lefty on lifeguard duty up on the bank! #nzbirds

This is one of the illustrations that didn't make it into the final poster project. The alternative version where the bird is a marsh crake, which is a far more rarely seen bird in Central Otago.
#pukeko #nzbirds #sciart #wetland #birdart #wildlife #Aubirds

Here are some more pics from the pūtangitangi maternity ward. #nzbirds
A day old 🥹

Best best news! The pūtangitangi babies have arrived! Ngaire and Lefty are very proud parents, chicks are bold but well behaved little dudes and dudettes. 9x dear little stripeys. #nzbirds
They've still got their egg teeth and they were still all eggy scented when we met them this morning 🥹🥹🥹

I think this might just be my favourite photo of last week's trip to Auckland - a couple of courting red-billed gulls / tarāpunga (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) on Muriwai beach.

#BirdsSeenIn2026 #NewZealand #nzbirds

Tui on Harakeke in Makarora Valley

#newzealand #newzealandbirds #wanaka #makarora #makaroravalley #nzbirds #southislandnz #tui #birdphotography #birds #PhotographersofBlueSky

Brown teal (Anas chlorotis) at the Okoromai Bay Salt Marsh, Auckland.

#nzbirds #rarebird #brownteal #BirdsSeenIn2026 #NewZealand

Silvereye on Kōwhai

#nzbirds 🇳🇿 🪶