Day Ten Part Two: Spotting the Little Spotted Kiwi (or not) on Kapiti Island

In the late afternoon we took a boat over to Kapiti Island. You may arrange to go over for the day, or to camp, but otherwise you stay overnight in cabins. There is main hall in which you are served a big buffet dinner and breakfast. A pair of Little Blue Penguins had nested right under the doormat; impossible to photograph though you could see them very clearly through the cracks when you lifted up the mat.

There are numerous trails and we went on a hike before dinner. Here is a pair of New Zealand pigeons.

Here's a Kaka, a huge native New Zealand parrot, very rare on the mainland islands:

And that's a weka:

 That's a Paradise Duck feeding in the swamp:

And yes, we went kiwi spotting, after dark, but did not spot any kiwis! And even if we had, I would not have been able to get any photographs. The Little Spotted (and it really is little spotted, as it is so elusive!) Kiwi is the species that lives on the island, If you'd like to see one, click here.

We went out with a guide who lives on the island, and slowly shuffled around in the dark for two hours. We did hear kiwis calling (check out the link if you want to know what that sounds like), and then came upon two mating (heard but never seen!), which is meant to be a rarity as they are such loners.

 Here is my cabin:




And its view:



Next door:

Inside: