Whio

On the torrent bay lagoon on the way to cleopatras pool on the 10Th of april

We saw Whio on his own at Cleopatras pool. He was not intimidated by the large group there and actually moved to the shade and went to sleep.

We visited the wainui falls, and on the river on the way out we saw a pair of Whio on the wainui river in mid-river, swimming and foraging.

1 by its self and then a mother with 4 chicks a bit further down stream

Seen on coast track 20m on anchorage side of Torrent bridge.
Also saw same one or simikar 200m along Cleopatras track on 20/3 around 9am.
Both times the Whio stayed on the track as i passed .

Swing bridge by Cleopatra Pools track. Duck swooped in and landed on the bridge. Then followed us along the track to the pools approx 750m then back again to the junction of the bridge. It became very aggressive and attacked me on the legs by pecking and hanging on to my legs and thumping with is webbed feet. We thought maybe there was a nest close by but didnt see any other ducks or ducklings. We didnt feed it.

At bridge to Cleopatra's Pool
I have pics but the photo library function won't open.

Meet this whio up the Cleopatra's pools walk. About halfway along we saw it in the stream, hunting under rocks. Once it saw our group it climbed up onto the path and walked with us all the way to the pools, where it jumped back in to the stream and resumed normal looking foraging in the rocks. Was completely unconcerned by all the people about.

Group of four

Cleopatras pool