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Guided bird watching in Canterbury, New Zealand. Tell us what species of birds you want to see and w

20/08/2025

Hans Zimmer wrote a very dramatic and unnerving piece of music called "I've got my eye on you" which featured in the movie "Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Man's Chest".

The opening bars make the hairs on the back of your neck prickle, just like this steely stare from a papango drake photographed at The Groynes, Christchurch, New Zealand.

01/08/2025

Experience gökotta with Auldwood Birds.

Gökotta is a Swedish concept that involves waking up early to experience the stillness of the morning and appreciate the beauty of nature, particularly birdsong.

Studies have shown that being around nature can improve our health, reduce feelings of isolation, and increase community cohesion.

To experience the benefits of gökotta, join Auldwood Birds on a dawn chorus tour of the wonderful Hinewai Reserve near Akaroa on New Zealand's Banks Peninsula.

We pick you up and transport you to Hinewai in time to listen to the dawn chorus of multiple NZ bird species. Watch the sunrise over Otanerito Bay from the heights of this native forest restoration reserve, background of with a backdrop of Banks Peninsula's soaring volcanic cliffs, all while enjoying a breakfast prepared by our famous Little River Cafe and Store.

After breakfast we explore Hinewai to look for the birds that make the breakfast so tuneful. Pick-up and drop-offs from Christchurch, Little River or Akaroa.

Better yet check out SiloStay LittleRiver's Silo Dawn Chorus package ( https://www.silostay.kiwi.nz/book-now/packages-2/ ) offering a combined special deal of a stay at the award winning SiloStay motels plus the dawn chorus tour with Auldwood Birds. A bargain that's sure to enhance your gökotta experience and it does mean you don't have to get up quite so early!

20/07/2025

Once thought to be the most endangered gull in the world, a revision of their population has seen their status "improved" from "critically endangered" to "declining", which is still not good news for this endemic New Zealand gull.
Photographed at Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth, only a few minutes from Auldwood Birds' HQ.

15/07/2025

Many of Auldwood Birds' clients visiting New Zealand ask about their chances of seeing the kārearea - New Zealand falcon - Falco novaeseelandiae.

This beautiful endemic falcon is a challenging bird to find. Many birders in New Zealand can go their whole lives without seeing one outside of captive bird programmes.

This is partly because this endemic bird is classed as rare (but recovering) and, while found throughout New Zealand, it's density of population is low.

Adult pairs require large territories (estimated to be as small as 15 km2 and up to 200 km2 depending on food availability) and they will defend these territories from other pairs, including their own young once they no longer need parental support.

One of our favourite places to take visitors to find karearea is "Hinewai" on Banks Peninsula (near Christchurch City), where we have the only commercial guiding concession for this charity-owned forest restoration reserve.

Hinewai's abundance of birds and its tall volcanic-stone cliffs provides an ideal habitat for these ground or rock-shelf-nesting bird-hunting raptors.

This is not to say there is a large population of karearea at Hinewai, the large park can only support a few pairs. But local knowledge helps, and knowing where these elusive birds might be within the valley can help improve visitors' chances of seeing these magnificent birds.

06/07/2025

In Asia and Australia, great Egret are widespread and abundant, but in New Zealand - where they are known as kōtuku (white heron) - they are birds of great rarity with a conservation status of "nationally critical" and a population of maybe 150 to 200 birds.

Their sole New Zealand breeding site is near Okarito Lagoon in Westland (South Island), where every kōtuku in NZ goes to breed. Outside of the breeding season, these birds disperse widely throughout NZ, preferring to be alone, and fiercely defending their wintering-over sites against other kōtuku.

No wonder, then, that in most of New Zealand, the bird is known as 'He kōtuku rerenga tahi' or "the bird of single flight", implying something seen perhaps once in a lifetime.

It is during this wintering over season that most New Zealanders stand their best chance of seeing one of these birds in their local area.

This photo was taken of a kōtuku in early morning mist at Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth, less than five minute's drive from Auldwood Birds' office. The bird was roosting in amongst a dense grove of bare winter willows, so finding a "window" to get this photo, took time and some gentle, quite, manoeuvres.

Auldwood Birds offers "winter white heron tours" for Canterbury locals or visitors wanting to find this elusive bird.

17/06/2025

The kāhu - swamp harrier - Circus approximans. Taken on one of our tours near our base at Little River, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, New Zealand.

09/06/2025

One of Auldwood Birds' favourite garden visitors is the tauhou/silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) which flock to New Zealand gardens in their dozens, sometimes many dozens, in Autumn and winter, capitalising on autumn fruits, winter flowers and the fact that many Kiwis love putting out food for them.
They are one of the most commonly observed native or endemic birds in suburban gardens.
The silvereye self-colonised New Zealand from Australia in the 1850s, long after Maori made their way to these islands. Hence the name "tauhou" which means "stranger" or "new arrival".
Delightful cheerful-sounding birds they bring joy to any garden.

01/06/2025

The kawaupaka (little s**g - Microcarbo melanoleucos)) is the most widely distributed s**g species in New Zealand, found in both marine and freshwater habitats, on the coast as well as on inland lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. But photographed in early winter light with some autumn-coloured reeds in the background, the stunning plumage of this common little bird is revealed, along with the detail of its long tail splayed out against the tree trunk.

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