TANE 22, 1976 RECORDS OF BIRDS FROM THE LEIGH DISTRICT, NEW ZEALAND by F.J. Taylor Marine Research Laboratory, University of Auckland, R.D., Leigh SUMMARY An annotated species list is given of the birds noted from 1966-1975 in the Leigh area of North Auckland. 90 species are listed from the area with a further three doubtful records. INTRODUCTION This account is intended to pull together casual observations made during residence in the district for the last ten years. The area is in the North Island of New Zealand, 100km north of Auckland at the north-western point of the Hauraki Gulf. The boundaries of the district are taken as the coastal waters from the Pakiri River mouth to the Matakana River mouth, up the Matakana River to Matakana village, following the Whangaripo Valley Road to its junction with the Wellsford-Pakiri High Road, and thence along the road to the Pakiri River mouth. Kawau Island is excluded, but the coastal waters out as far as, but not including, Little Barrier Island are included. However, some records from just outside this area are also included and are placed in brackets, as are dubious records. References to 'Ainola' are to the author's home on Goat Island Road. The area is composed mainly of farmland with scattered bush remnants, though the hill Tamahunga remains well wooded. The areas of bush are being reduced considerably as the result of farming activities. Whangateau Harbour is an extensive estuarine embayment which attracts some waders. The Matakana River estuary also attracts these birds, but is more frequented by people and boats. There is a small, but interesting patch of a similar habitat near the Pakiri River mouth, but this is rapidly being made unsuitable for birds by interference from the occupants of the newly established motor camp there. Similarly, Broadland's Omaha development scheme has spoilt the Mangatawhiri Spit for naturalists. There have been a number of changes in the bird population over the past ten years. One of the most prominent is the rise of the myna, and the decline of species like the starling and the house sparrow, which has been attributed to the aggressive behaviour of the myna. Other birds which have increased noticeably are the pukeko and the kingfisher, and the recent immigrants, the white-faced heron and the welcome swallow. Although most of the records are my own, I would like to acknowledge records, especially of petrels, shearwaters and other sea birds made by Dr J.P. Croxall in 1969-71, and records and information from Mr G.J.H. Moon and Mr G. Buxton. There are also a few literature records, but the bird notes in Notornis for instance have not been scanned thoroughly. The scientific and common names follow Falla, Sibson and Turbott 163 (1970). Birds known to breed currently in the area are indicated with an asterisk. Probable breeders are indicated by an asterisk and a question mark. ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST Apteryx australis mantelli - North Island Brown Kiwi Reputedly heard by local residents around Tamahunga. The only certain records are of eggs found during scrub burning on our side of the Whangaripo Valley Road about 1960, and one killed by a dog in Matakana Village in 1971. l*Eudyptula minor — Little Blue Penguin Frequently seen in coastal waters. Formerly nested at Goat Island Bay, probably still does elsewhere in the region. A mass mortality occurred in March-April 1975, with 20-30 dead birds per kilometre on Pakiri Beach. They bore no signs of disease, but all examined had empty stomachs, and it is conjectured that the exceptionally high sea temperatures that summer caused a diminution in the food supply. (Megadyptes antipodes — Yellow-eyed Penguin) One reported dead at Matheson Bay, 1970. Specimen not seen. Macronectes giganteus — Giant Petrel Not uncommon offshore in autumn and winter. Live bird seen off Goat Island, November 1969. Dead birds seen at Pakiri Beach 1966 (Roberts 1975), 1968, 1971. Daption capensis — Cape Pigeon One found dead, Pakiri Beach, October 1968. Pachyptila belcheri - Narrow-billed Prion One found dead, Pakiri Beach, September 1969, February 1976. Pachyptila turtur — Fairy Prion Seen offshore throughout the year in flocks. Pachyptila sp. — Prion Unidentified prions, not Fairy Prions, have been recorded occasionally. Puffinus carneipes — Flesh-footed Shearwater Common offshore. Puffinus bulleri - Butler's Shearwater Abundant offshore. Puffinus griseus — Sooty Shearwater Occasional offshore. One dead, Goat Island Bay, November 1975. 164 Puffinus tenuirostris - Short-tailed Shearwater Rare offshore (J. Croxall). Five dead, Pakiri February 1966 (Roberts 1975). Puffinus gavia — Fluttering Shearwater Abundant offshore. Puffinus assimilis — Allied Shearwater Occasional offshore (J. Croxall). One found dead, Pakiri Beach, September 1969. Procellaria parkinsoni — Black Petrel Rare offshore. Seen close inshore round Leigh and Matheson Bay after bad storms. (Breeds on Little Barrier Island.) Pterodroma macroptera - Grey-faced Petrel Occasional offshore. Six dead, Pakiri, February 1966 (Roberts 1975). (Breeds on Little Barrier Island.) Pterodroma lessoni — White headed Petrel One dead, Pakiri, February 1966 (Roberts 1975). Possibly in our area. Pterodroma pycrofti - Pycroft's Petrel Occasional offshore. One dead, Goat Island Beach, 1970, (J. Croxall). (Breeds on Hen Island.) Pterodroma cooki - Cook's Petrel Occasional offshore. One skull, Goat Island Beach (J. Croxall). Five dead, Pakiri, February 1966 (Roberts 1975). (Breeds on Little Barrier Island.) Pelagodroma marina - White-faced Storm Petrel Common offshore (J. Croxall). Pelecanoides urinatrix urinatrix — Northern Diving Petrel Common offshore and sometimes close inshore in large flocks. Frequently found dead on Pakiri and Goat Island Beaches. (Breeds on Little Barrier Island in small numbers.) Sula senator — Australian Gannet Common, often feeding very close inshore. Banded birds recovered in the district were banded as chicks on White Island and at Cape Kidnappers. Phalacrocorax carbo — Black Shag Common. Seen up to one kilometre inland on Goat Island Road. *Phalacrocorax varius - Pied Shag Common. Breeds on Goat Island, and formerly at Matheson's Bay. Has 165 been seen up to a kilometre inland near Goat Island Bay. Phalacrocorax sulcirostris - Little Black Shag 3-5 frequently seen on Whangateau Harbour. Occasional at Goat Island Bay. Phalacrocorax melanoleucos brevirostris - Little Shag (Little Pied and White- Throated Shags) Uncommon. Up to three birds have been seen at infrequent intervals. *Ardea novae hollandiae — White-faced Heron Common. 18 were seen in a half-hectare paddock near Point Wells in July 1975. First arrived in the district about 1960. One bird seen on Whangateau Harbour in 1972-3 had a completely white head and a white patch extending half way down the neck. The same, or a similar bird, was noted by G.J.H. Moon at Sandspit in October 1975 and by the author at Whangateau Harbour in December 1975. (Egretta alba - White Heron) Frequently reported from Whangateau Harbour, but owing to confusion with the Little Egret by untrained observers, reliable records are required. Egretta garzetta — Little Egret One bird, Whangateau Harbour, June 1969. Two birds regularly seen there in winter 1975, often with White-faced Herons, and on one occasion three were seen together (December 1975). Over the same period one bird, probably one of the above, was seen in Pakiri River. *Egretta sacra - Blue Reef Heron Frequently seen at Goat Island Bay, and on the Whangateau Harbour. Botaurus poiciloptilus — Australian Brown Bittern Rare. Formerly occurred near Big Omaha and Point Wells; still seen occasionally near Big Omaha (G. Buxton). Nest found in rushes on north side of Pakiri River about 1960 by G.J.H. Moon, who also saw a bird in the same area about 1971. Tadorna variegata — Paradise Duck A pair seen round Pakiri River Mouth in spring 1967, 1969,1973. On each occasion they remained for 2-3 weeks. Anas superciliosa - Grey Duck One seen Pakiri, 1969, (J. Croxall). *Anas platyrhyncos — Mallard Occasional on ponds in the district. 166 *Anser cinereus - Domestic Goose A population in Goat Island Road has been neglected since 1969 and can be regarded as completely feral. A pinioned gander and two geese were released in 1969 and subsequently ignored by the owner. They have bred regularly since then and all the progeny are free-flying. Since 1972 their numbers have stabilised at between 20 and 30. Four or five goslings are born every year. There does not appear to be any obvious mortality in the flock so the stable population appears to be maintained by either poaching or migration. The range of the flock is over about 5km2. * Circus approximans - Harrier Common. (Falco novaeseelandiae — New Zealand Falcon) There were several reports of this from the Warkworth and Matheson Bay areas in 1972-73, but none were confirmed by experienced observers. It is possible that some records may refer to a Nankeen Kestrel (see below.) Falco cenchroides — Nankeen Kestrel One seen behind Goat Island Bay in December 1972. The bird, a female, perched on a fence post by the side of the road and permitted an extensive close view. The head, back and mantle were reddish brown and the tail was barred. The underparts were creamy-white, flecked with brown. When perched it had the typical falcon stance (also described to me independently by another observer who passed the bird) and when it flew it did so with typical kestrel flight, but was not seen to hover. I was familiar with this species at the time, having returned only a fortnight previously from six months in Australia where it was common. *Synoicus australis — Australian Brown Quail Frequent. Resident in the Goat Island Bay area, since at least 1966, where it is breeding happily. *Lophortyx californica — Californian Quail Frequent, but erratic in appearance. Regularly seen in the Goat Island Bay area 1966-1970, but only infrequently since then.