Brown Creeper
creepers
I can’t remember visiting Ulva and not seeing at lease a couple of of these small “non-descript” birds. So much so that a few years ago I once casually wrote them off to a Brit Birder as “Oh its just a Brown Creeper” and was told quite firmly that we didn’t know how lucky we were, as Ulvahad the largest concentration in New Zealand… They are restricted to the South Island and Stewart Island…. and on reflection I realised just how seldom I saw them on Mainland Stewart Island as well.
Creepers… the same Brit called them LBJ’s, little brown jobs…. are flock birds, and like most flock birds quite vocal. The flocks are apparently family groups and I have to say the senior couple have life fairly well sorted as last years young do most if not all of the raising of the nestlings.
They are primarily insect feeders, and while they will work the trunks of trees they seem to prefer the smaller branches. They will take coprosma fruit when available. I have seen them down feeding quite low to the ground, even on the forest floor at times. But generally they seem to work the mid story.
They will often have YellowheadsandGreywarblers,flocking with them orFantailsworking as opportunistic fellow travellers and evenParakeets who just seem to follow along in the crowd.
Peter Tait
Peter Tait is a professional nature guide based at Stewart Island, New Zealand, and he works primarily on Ulva Island Open Sanctuary. Peter has been resident on the Island for over 40 years and was one time Forest Ranger in Charge of Stewart Island. Fishing followed forestry and was in turn followed by Talisker, a 17m charter yacht. He is qualified Skipper Deep Sea Fishing Vessel. In addition to guiding Peter and his wife Iris are hosts at Sails Ashore Lodge.
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