Tiritiri Matangi Island
We spent the day on the island nature reserve known as Tiri for short, a haven for endemic birds. All the alien mammal predators have been removed and a difference it makes!
The island has a rich and diverse mix of birds, many of which are very confiding. Their names are pretty good too, and today we enjoyed such delights as New Zealand Bellbird, Whitehead, Saddleback, Stitchbird, New Zealand Fantail and Fernbird, along with wonderfully tame New Zealand Robins hopping at our feet.
From the boat over to the island we enjoyed watching Fluttering Shearwater and Arctic Skua, while in the harbour we had our first Pacific Reef Heron of the trip.
Tomorrow we head for the South Island…