Shakespear Open Sanctuary

Bird Checklist

Shakespear Open Sanctuary is an accessible haven for wildlife. Close to the island bird sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi, and positioned on the end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula in the , Shakespear Regional Park is an ideal site for an open sanctuary.

The sanctuary was established in 2010 by the construction of a pest-proof fence across the peninsula, after which all predator species were removed. An extensive and ongoing system of trapping and monitoring is required to ensure that the Sanctuary remains free of pests while allowing open access to visitors.

The range of natural and farmland habitats present in Shakespear Park provides homes to many bird species. The absence of predators in the sanctuary has led to increasing numbers in many resident species and is allowing birds from Tiritiri Matangi such as kakariki and bell- birds to become established. Newly recorded species such as banded rail and fernbird are also beginning to appear. About 80 species of bird may be seen in and around the park and this number will grow as species once present return or are re-introduced.

This checklist is comprised of all known birds recorded in the park and its surrounds, and provides a guide as to when and where they may be seen. For more information about these birds, useful references are Heather & Robertson "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zea- land" and the NZ Birds Online site nzbirdsonline.org.nz.

Please report unusual sightings to: Council (09) 366 2000 or Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society at [email protected]

Compiled by Richard Chambers, Jan 2016

ALBATROSSES, SHEARWATERS and PETRELS

Flesh-footed shearwater (Toanui) Native. Offshore in summer Puffinus carneipes Buller's shearwater (Rako) Endemic. Offshore in summer Puffinus bulleri Fluttering shearwater (Pakaha) Endemic, Offshore year round Puffinus gavia Breeding recorded 2015 Diving petrel (Kuaka) Native, Offshore year round Pelecanoides urinatrix Cook's petrel (Titi) Endemic, Offshore in summer; heard Pterodroma cookii passing overhead at night in summer Grey-faced petrel (Oi) Native, Offshore year round. Pterodroma macroptera Possibly breeding

PENGUINS

Blue penguin (Korora) Native, Offshore year round Eudyptula minor Summer breeder along rocky coasts

GANNETS and BOOBIES

Gannet (Takapu) Native, Offshore year round Morus serrator

SHAGS

Black shag (Kawau) Native, occasional visitor Phalacrocorax carbo Coast, wetlands Pied shag (Karuhiruhi) Native, breeding on coast year round Phalacrocorax varius Coast Little black shag Native, common Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Coast, pond and wetlands Little shag (Kawaupaka) Native, common Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Coast, pond and wetlands

HERONS and BITTERNS

White-faced heron Native, breeding, common Ardea novaehollandiae Coast, wetlands, coastal pasture Reef heron (Matuku-moana) Native, breeding, occasional Egretta sacra Rocky coast, lagoon Bittern (Matuku-hurepo) Native, possible occasional visitor Botaurus poiciloptilus Wetlands, drains

IBISES and SPOONBILLS

Royal spoonbill (Kotuku-ngutupapa) Native, occasional visitor to Platalea regia Okoromai Bay

SWANS, GEESE and DUCKS

Black swan Introduced, breeding, common Cygnus atratus Coastal at Okoromai Bay, pond Canada goose Introduced, occasional visitor Branta canadensis Pasture, coastal Paradise shelduck (Putangitangi) Endemic, breeding, common Tadorna variegate Wetlands, pasture Mallard Introduced, breeding, common Anas platyrhynchos Wetlands, pond, pasture Grey duck (Parera) Native, occasional visitor Anas superciliosa Wetlands, pond Grey teal (Tete) Native, occasional visitor Anas gracilis Wetlands, pond Brown teal (Pateke) Endemic, breeding, occasional Anas chlorotis Wetlands, pond shoveler (Kuruwhengi) Native, occasionally breeding Anas rhynchotis Wetlands, pond BIRDS of PREY

Harrier (Kahu) Native, breeding, common Circus approximans Bush, scrub, wetlands, dunes, pas- ture

GAMEBIRDS

California quail Introduced, breeding, common Callipepla californica Bush, scrub, wetlands, dunes, pas- ture Brown quail Introduced, breeding, common Synoicus ypsilophorus Bush, scrub, wetlands, dunes, pas- ture Peafowl Introduced, breeding Pavo cristatus Only at Te Haruhi Bay around park office Ring-necked pheasant Introduced, breeding, common Phasianus colchicus Bush, scrub, wetlands, dunes, pas- ture

RAILS

Banded rail (Moho-pereru) Native first seen in 2013, breeding Rallus philippensis Wetlands, Okoromai Bay salt marsh- es Spotless crake (Puwheto) Native, breeding, becoming Porzana tabuensis common Wetlands, rank grass on bush mar- gins, Okoromai Bay salt marshes Pukeko Native, breeding, common Porphyrio melanotus Bush, wetlands, salt marshes, pas- ture

WADERS, GULLS and TERNS

Pied oystercatcher (Torea) Endemic, mainly in winter Haematopus finschi Beaches, mainly Okoromai Bay Variable oystercatcher (Toreapango) Endemic, breeding, common Haematopus unicolor Beaches, rocky coast Pied stilt (Poaka) Native, breeding, common Himantopus leucocephalus Beaches, wetlands, pond Banded dotterel (Tuturiwhatu) Endemic, visitor Charadrius bicinctus Beaches, pasture New Zealand dotterel (Tuturiwhatu) Endemic, breeding Aug-Feb Charadrius obscurus Beaches, pasture Spur-winged plover Native, breeding, common Vanellus miles Beaches, wetlands, pasture Bar-tailed godwit Migrant, Limosa lapponica Okoromai Bay Arctic skua Migrant Stercorarius parasiticus Offshore in summer Southern black-backed gull (Karoro) Native, breeding, common Larus dominicanus Offshore year round, beaches, rocky coast, pasture Red-billed gull (Tarapunga) Native, common Larus novaehollandiae Beaches, rocky coast, lagoon, pas- ture Caspian tern (Taranui) Native, resident, common Sterna caspia Offshore year round, beaches White-fronted tern (Tara) Native, common Sterna striata Offshore year round, beaches

PIGEONS and DOVES

New Zealand pigeon (Kereru) Endemic, breeding, common Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae Bush, scrub, plantings Spotted dove Introduced, breeding, occasional Streptopelia chinensis Bush edges Barbary dove Introduced Streptopelia roseogrisea Possible visitor from suburban Whangaparaoa Rock pigeon Introduced, breeding, common Columba livia Pasture, coastal cliffs

PARROTS

North Island kaka Endemic, visitor Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis Bush Eastern rosella Introduced, breeding, common Platycercus eximius Bush, plantings, pasture Red-crowned parakeet (Kakariki) Endemic, breeding, self-introduced Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae from Tiritiri Island, occasional Bush, bush edge, scrub

CUCKOOS

Shining cuckoo (Pipiwharauroa) Native, breeding migrant, spring- Chrysococcyx lucidus summer only Bush, scrub, plantings Long-tailed cuckoo (Koekoea) Endemic, possible visitor Eudynamys taitensis Bush, scrub, in spring-summer OWLS

Morepork (Ruru) Native, breeding, common Ninox novaeseelandiae Bush, scrub, most easily seen in Wa- terfall Gully at night

KINGFISHERS

Kookaburra Introduced Dacelo novaeguineae Rare visitor to Whangaparaoa Penin- sula Kingfisher (Kotare) Native, breeding, common Halcyon sancta Coast, wetlands, bush, scrub, plant- ings, pasture PASSERINES

Welcome swallow Native, breeding, common Hirundo tahitica Coast, wetlands, pasture, buildings Skylark Introduced, breeding, common Alauda arvensis Pasture, gravel roads New Zealand pipit (Pihoihoi) Endemic, breeding but has declined Anthus novaeseelandiae and rarely seen Pasture, beaches, gravel roads Dunnock Introduced, breeding in low numbers Prunella modularis Bush, scrub, plantings Blackbird Introduced, breeding, common Turdus merula Bush, scrub, plantings, pasture Song thrush Introduced, breeding, common Turdus philomelos Bush, scrub, plantings, pasture Fernbird (Matata) E,V Endemic, confirmed sightings 2015 Bowdleria punctate Scrub, wetlands Whitehead Endemic, reintroduced 2015 Mohoua albicilla Bush, scrub and plantings Grey warbler (Riroriro) Endemic, breeding, common Gerygone igata Bush, scrub, plantings Fantail (Piwakawaka) Native, breeding, common Rhipidura fuliginosa Bush, scrub, plantings Silvereye (Tauhou) Native, breeding, common Zosterops lateralis Bush, scrub, plantings Stitchbird (Hihi) Endemic, rare visitor Notiomystis cincta Two individuals seen 2008 Bellbird (Korimako) Endemic, a small number breeding Anthornis melanura Bush, scrub, plantings Tui Endemic, breeding, common Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae Bush, scrub, plantings Yellowhammer Introduced, breeding, common Emberiza citronella Bush edge, scrub, plantings, pasture Chaffinch Introduced, breeding Fringilla coelebs Bush, scrub, plantings, pasture Greenfinch Introduced, breeding, common Carduelis chloris Bush, scrub, plantings, pasture Goldfinch Introduced, breeding, common Carduelis carduelis Bush, scrub, plantings, pasture Redpoll Introduced, breeding, occasional Carduelis flammea Scrub, plantings, dunes House sparrow Introduced, breeding, common Passer domesticus Plantings, pasture, around buildings Starling Introduced, breeding, common Sturnus vulgaris Bush, plantings, pasture, around buildings Common myna Introduced, breeding, common Acridotheres tristis Bush, plantings, pasture, around buildings Australian magpie Introduced, breeding, common Gymnorhina tibicen Bush, plantings, pasture