We've spent a lot of time in the bush off this track in the kid's bush hut. That's true kiwi kids play right there. Many times while there, we've had visitors... first it was a friendly male Tomtit, and then later a North Island Robin. Both of them spent hours hanging around chatting to us and entertaining us and my camera!
Please wear gumboots or shoes you don't mind getting muddy if you're here during or after rain.
If you ever see a robin in the bush, make sure they are watching you while you stir up some leaf litter with your boot, then step back and crouch down with your camera a few metres away, be still and quiet, and you should be rewarded by a visit from the robin. In some places they will even even come to look for seeds on your shoe laces or socks!
While walking along the Pukerimu Wetlands walk one of the loudest bird calls commonly heard is the the Grey Warbler or Riroriro. Their song is surprisingly loud for their size. It is a tiny bird with a pale grey tummy, darker grey wings and back, and characteristic red eyes.
For a long time I couldn't get a photo of them because they are small and fast and didn't come close. Now I have learned to identify their song, and when I hear it, if I have data reception on my phone I look up their song on google and play it, then the little grey warbler comes closer, up to a few metres away, and you can get a good look at them, and they love to sing back to the audio track for quite some time.
We hope you enjoy the birds along this walk.
WARNING - this track is sometimes used by hunters - if here around dusk or dark please wear bright clothes and make some noise!
Tomtit
North Island Robin
Grey Warbler
