News Archive

The Nankeen night herons at Upokongaro, near Whanganui, are busy with nests and chicks, and it looks like we are going to have another bumper breeding season. There are five … … Continued

A surprise find last evening on our local Whanganui Estuary, was a Marsh Sandpiper, a rare bird for NZ. Only once before have I seen one here in Whanganui, that … … Continued

Happy to report that AJD, our godwit friend, is back on the Whanganui Estuary for his 16th summer. He returned from Alaska to Foxton in October, then made the move … … Continued

Although not a birding hotspot, our local Whanganui River Estuary turns up some very nice birds. A sharp-tailed sandpiper was found one morning, in the company of a group of … … Continued

For Christmas 2023 we have a new book out, RARE BEAUTY Nankeen Night Heron in New Zealand, a fascinating read of one of New Zealand's rarest birds, only found resident … … Continued

This year has seen several uncommon waders on the Whanganui Estuary, the latest being a tiny, red-necked stint. I last photographed one here in 2006, so they are certainly rare … … Continued

We are very happy to see the godwit, flagged AJD, return back to Foxton from his migration to Alaska. This now completes 15 years of migrations that I have been … … Continued

I was lucky to be able to photograph a gull-billed tern recently at the Manawatu Estuary. Earlier in the year we had one briefly at Whanganui. A lovely bird, with … … Continued

We first had a mostly white blackbird, and now we have a mostly white fantail, both in nearby areas. The fantail was reported some time again, but trying to find … … Continued

After a very exciting breeding season and our good fortune of being able to monitor nests and chicks, the birds returned to their nocturnal ways. However, during some cold days … … Continued