Of Bitterns, Botulism and a Birthday

In Mid-April I got a call from Rosemary Tully at Whakatane Bird Rescue to say she had a bittern that she had rehabilitated and was ready for release at the Nukuhau Saltmarsh. A small crowd of people turned up to watch. Margaret and Stuart Slade told me of a large bittern that they often see there so we all hoped the two would perhaps meet up at a later date and make some little bitterns. The view from the end of the boardwalk out over the marsh was beautiful, the perfect spot for the release. Rosemary plucked a couple of feathers from the bird for Dept. of Conservations DNA records then set it down on the platform where it went into "Stick" mode, doing its best to impersonate a stick. This is when I took heaps of photos so the bittern came to the conclusion that it was fooling no-one and decided to split. It flew a short way before disapearing into the reeds. A happy conclusion for all!

MAY 2008, I have been visiting the Apanui mudflats almost every morning hoping to see the Kotuku. They breed in Okarito in Westland in the South Island over the spring/summer then disperse to spots all around the country in the winter. The spoonbills have been back for a while, I've seen up to five in this spot lately. They make lovely subjects & I've got some nice shots. But they are a bit goofy in comparison to the kotuku.

I arrived at the mudflats one morning at low tide and was checking out the action looking for something to photograph. I walked out onto the mud & saw a large flock of Black-backed gulls which was unusual. I normally see a few individuals but not in large numbers. As I approached the gulls a few let me get very close. It became apparent that three of them so sick that they were unable to walk or fly which put me in a bit of a predicament. I am not a fan of these birds as they prey on the chicks of other birds (dotterels for one.) BUT I couldn't walk away and leave them to die slowly in the sun. After a call to Mike Jones at DOC I found out they were probably suffering from Avian Botulism and there was no chance of recovery. Mike was busy with a kiwi release and most of the other staff were at a funeral which left ME to deal with the situation. Quite by chance I had a large plastic bin in the back of the car so I gingerly picked up the gulls and put them in it. I was surprised at how light they were for such a large bird. They put up no fight. I took them to the "Vets for Pets" clinic in McAlister St and explained the situation to the receptionist who assured me the vet would deal to them as soon as she was finished with her current patient. A lady with a poodle came over to peer into my Box of Birds. "Aaaah" she cooed and went to pat one....Duh! It latched onto her hand in one final defiant gesture..... I tried not to laugh.

My Dad turned 72 on the 24th May and Troy and I took him and Mum to Rotorua to visit Wingspan. My sister Gina and her daughters Nicky and Melissa met us there also. We were treated to the usual stunning flying demos by NZ falcons Ozzie and Ruby and everyone had the chance to have them land on their (gloved) hand. My nieces were especially impressed as was the Birthday Boy! Ten year old Nicky fell in love with "Whisper" the Morepork and asked her Mum if she could get an owl of her own. Gina told her that you can't buy owls but Nicola insisted she would be able to find one on TradeMe. We all had a wonderful afternoon & Dad said it was the BEST Birthday!

Here's one of my latest paintings. Its a dotterel in winter plumage. I had only just finished it when it sold two days later. I felt sorry to see it go as I hadn't finished looking at it which sounds a bit strange but I'm like that with my paintings. I like to look at them for a while to make sure there is nothing that I want to change. It went to a good home so thats good.

These little birds are much more colourful in their breeding plumage when the chest is a lovely rust colour.

Monday 9th JUNE.

HE'S BACK! The Kotuku I mean. I saw him briefly on Friday afternoon but the light was too dim to photograph him. Then this morning I was at the mudflats when he soared past and landed on the Yacht Club railings. He was in the shade so I got a couple of photos then went to warm my frozen fingers on the sunny side of the building. He flew up river to the little creek behind the skate bowl and I got some nice photos but he was a little far away. He couldn't find much to eat so he flew back to the sunny side of the yacht club where I got some great shots of him preening. I was hoping he might fly down to the rocky point to catch mullet but Troy phoned for me to take him home as he has a nasty cold. BUGGER! Oh well, theres always tomorrow!