Previously I reported on our trip to Mount White Station in the Canterbury High Country. This is a stunning landscape venue and I really enjoyed this aspect of the visit. As a bird photographer though, my attention is always distracted by potential avian subjects. While not numerous there were some that caught my eye so, on the final morning I decided to get up early for a wander down to the lake to see what I could find. I had seen flights of Pūtangitangi/Paradise duck and a decent flock of Masked Lapwing in noisy flight. Most exciting, I had seen a Kārearea/NZ Falcon fly over when leaving lunch the previous day (without camera!).

The lapwings were were doing laps along the far shore of the lake and occasionally came close enough, at times with a mountain background and at times the overcast sky, allowing for a white background.

Heading back for breakfast I found some Tauhou/Silvereye and Hurukōwhai/Yellowhammers flitting in and out of the hawthorn along with the occasional Korimako/Bellbird. A slow stalk followed by standing still near the base of a bush allowed for a couple of images.

Mount White Station is a fantastic landscape destination but, like most places, can also offer some opportunities for the bird obsessed, even allowing opportunities for Birds on White at Mount White!

Photos with Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 800mm f6.3 VR S.