The first of the three titipounamu nests I'm watching to hatch. This Dad has been busy feeding his babies since Saturday.

Ceecee’s first nest for the season is underway! It’s her fifth nest overall (she builds two per year) #birds #nzbirds

This young female titipounamu is half of a pair that I frequently see in upper Highbury. They often flit across the road into people's gardens. I hope they will eventually become a more common sight down the hill where I live. #birds #nzbirds

I don't know how well photos show just how tiny these titipounamu are. This girl weighs all of 7 grams and she has barely any tail. I've mistaken them for fat moths before. But she loves her baths even when it's freezing! #birds #nzbirds #birdbath

The day after I finished reading Dogs of War by @aptshadow.bsky.social, the copy I ordered of Bear Head arrived all the way from the UK and, as an added bonus, it's signed!

Caught this ruru on trial cam using the bath (in which it could barely fit) #birds #nzbirds #owls

Little round boy #birds #nzbirds

A little compilation of our most recent stream-bath visitors #birds #nzbirds

This kererū’s tiny head was too hard to focus my camera on but I thought he’d still look great with a crown #birds #nzbirds

Female hihi, lGB-B, is using the bath a lot right now. I call her “li’l Gabby” to remember her bands. #birds

Caught mid-scream #birds

I’ve been doing some touristy things in Rotorua

Another whio duckling photo from last Christmas #birds #nzbirds

Big moon last night. My phone couldn’t do it justice

Who needs a baby owl right now? #birds #nzbirds

One of the local titipounamu visiting his favourite bathing spot. The stream is flowing again so I no longer have to service the bath every day 😅 #birds #nzbirds

I recently saw this kererū hanging upside down nibbling the berries from a tī kōuka/cabbage tree. #birds #nzbirds

It seems Mr Bigwattles here doesn’t share bath times #birds #nzbirds

Yellow-fronted kākāriki taking a bath at Motuara Island #birds #nzbirds

Cobb Valley seemed to be full of mātātā. They have a mouse-like furtiveness but don't seem to mind if you quietly approach. #birds #nzbirds

Female ngirungiru on some really interesting looking lichen #birds #nzbirds

A male ngirungiru (South Island tomtit) checking us out up the Cobb Valley. #birds #nzbirds

I have 2 SD cards worth of (mostly bird) photos to sort through but in the meantime here's a phone picture from the Heaphy.

Korimako at the birdbath

Next week I take my belated Christmas break to the Heaphy Track and Cobb Valley. I'm hoping it will be birdy.

"Please submit yourself for inspection, human" #birds #nzbirds

Good lunch spot

I've lived in this house about 7 years and I still can't get over this being our view when we're 15 mins walk from the CBD

This is my little toutouwai friend Pod. He has a crippled foot so, to take the pressure off his good leg, sometimes he just... sits. #birds #nzbirds

Karaka, sweetie, you can’t read

She looks how I feel this month

A young titipounamu waits impatiently for its mother to bring it food #birds #nzbirds

Someone doesn't like sharing... #birds #nzbirds

I always see some funny little exchanges between tīeke in the bird bath #birds #nzbirds

A leucistic tūī I spotted in Highbury last night #birds #nzbirds

Whio ducklings are such strong swimmers #birds #nzbirds

While filming a titipounamu nest today, I managed to record a somewhat misleading sound effect. Play this with volume up to see what I mean... #birds #nzbirds

I ended up babysitting two young toutouwai yesterday afternoon #birds #nzbirds

Whio ducklings look a little silly when they try to flap their wings 😂 #nzbirds #birds

Two whio ducklings settling in for a nap with one of their parents #birds #nzbirds

Hiked up the Whirinaki River on Christmas Day, saw several little whio (blue duck) families, and subsequently filled my whole memory card #birds #nzbirds

Whio (blue duck) earlier this year on the Whirinaki River. I've been there a couple of times this year and hasn't gotten old. #birds #nzbirds

Working from Dad’s place over the Xmas period. Hopefully to head to the forest during my handful of days off for more birdwatching!

Not bad

I collected 5mins of bird bath footage while reading my book yesterday. #birds #nzbirds www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiUF...

Interrupted by a nosy parrot while trying to read my book in the forest #birds #nzbirds

An extended bath from a pair of young titipounamu siblings this morning #birds #nzbirds #bathcam

An attempted seduction #birds #nzbirds

Ended up right in the middle of Ceecee the titipounamu's little family this evening. #birds #nzbirds