Colleen and I started the day at 8:00 am birding with birdingpal Nick Allen. We ended a fantastic day of birding after 8:00pm. Nick Allan has published a book on the birding spots in Canterbury province/state/region. He has also advised us on the next two days of birding.
The day was warm with just a slight breeze. We had views that were straight out of Lord of the Rings/the Hobbit. This is the land of mountains, and valleys and forests, ocean bays, the South Pacific Ocean and green green hills covered with sheep!
We birded at low tide in the mudflats of Ashley Estuary and we walked a bit to the shore area with lots of birds. We visited Kaiapoi Lakes also for some NZ endemics. Then we drove to the inside of a 2 billion year old volcano, Akaloa Lakes and then over a pass to the coast.
The views were stunning. Bird highlights were Paradise Shelduck, NZ Scaup, Yellow Hammer, Greenfinch, Australasian Shoveler, Chaff Finch, Double Banded Dotterell, Spotted Shag, NZ Pigeon, Brown Tree Creeper, Riflemen - female, European Redpoll, NZ Grey Fantail and so many more.
We ended the day with a Korean Dinner which was great. Colleen got some fantastic photos so check her facebook page Colleen Murray to see them, I just get this done and then I have to work on my bird list and other notes on trees and the areas etc.
Tomorrow we are driving to Arthur's Pass which is over a mountain heading west and there are specific birds we are looking for at specific locations, so hope we get our target birds.
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