12/13 January 2025

I managed to get my blog up to date by about 9.50, which was when my laptop’s battery was running out, so I went back to the room and got ready.

I got dressed in:

• Boat neck merino
• Polo neck merino
• Blouse
• V-neck merino
• Jacket
• Merino leggings
• Travel cargo slacks

And put my rain jacket and waterproof over-trousers in my bag. Along with Kally, D.C.’s camera, my phone, torch, and insect repellent.

Pen was ready about the same time, and we walked around to Beaks and Feathers office in Main Street. Everyone else on our tour, and a couple on the 11.00pm tour, were already there and it was only just 10.30pm for a 10.45 start.

Our guide was Tomas, and he took us through what we needed to know. We were going out to the local airfield, and he would lead the way. Everyone else could follow a metre behind. Kiwi were almost blind but were sensitive to white light, so he was the only one to use their torch as his had the red-light filter. (Which was expected. Our torch was for getting us home again.) Keep noise to the minimum. Just watch and enjoy the first kiwi seen, as there were no guarantees that there would be any more. If you were taking photos, do it as silently and without any white light as possible. The runway was boarded by grass and beyond that was bush. Kiwi liked to come out and feed on the grassy area where it was easy for them to find their food like worms, but they were close to the safety of the bush.

And, when I asked, there was no need for insect repellent as sandflies were diurnal rather than nocturnal. (And, I guess, mosquitoes were blown away in the wind. Or, more likely, it’s too cold for them… for now.)

We all piled into the minibus and were driven up to Ryan’s Creek Aerodrome, where we got out into the near darkness. At this point I put my rain jacket on, but didn’t need my over-trousers. Tomas started walking, red light highlighting the grassy area around us, and we followed.

It was only a minute or two before we saw our first Kiwi. This was a female (beak was longer and slightly curved) and was totally unperturbed by this bunch of humans looking on in awe. We watched her as she prodded the ground and occasionally snacked on something yummy. We must have watched her for about five minutes before she retreated into the bush.

Of course, this was when I felt like sneezing.

Pen and I high fived each other.

We continued on, soon finding Kiwi number two. This one did something that no one seems to know why its done. The Kiwi, for no obvious reason, would suddenly flop onto its side and wave its legs in the air (like it just didn’t care.) People had postulated that it was to get rid of ticks and parasites, but they don’t get ticks. Tomas’ opinion was that it was a scent leaving behaviour. Whatever it was, once you realised they weren’t actually falling over, it was quite funny to watch.

One of the other people had a DSLR camera with a long lens, but unfortunately, it shone a white light so they weren’t able to get an photos with it.

I had D.C.’s camera and had already set it up on the handheld night vision handheld setting. I didn’t really hold out much hope of actually getting anything, as this setting involved getting four photos in quick succession and then overlaying them together to get a photo with enough light to see what you’re looking at – and the Kiwi rarely stopped moving. When I decided to try using it, I turned it on in my pocket, so the startup chime was muffled, and then pulled it up so the screen was pressed against my tummy and hiding the light, pointed it in roughly the right direction, and pressed the shutter button.

I also got a couple of photos with my phone, which was harder as the screen was larger and gave off more light – even though it automatically converts to night-mode after 10.00pm. Because of this extra light source, I had to try to take the photo with the case almost shut, which is difficult when the shutter button is on the screen. (I do prefer cameras with viewfinders.) But I did manage to get a blob.

We continued down the runway, red light tracing the grassy edges to the sides and behind, until we reached the end. At that point, Tomas said: “That concludes the tour, the bus is in that direction, so if you’d all like to make your way back…”

We all gave a quiet chuckle.

We followed Tomas back, still Kiwi hunting and occasionally finding, including one being observed by the 11pm group.

We were facing into the breeze this way and the cold was making my nose run, which could have made me sneeze, so I put my mask on to keep my face warm.

It was close to, if not a, full moon, and the clouds were parting to allow its light through. That made it more difficult to see the Kiwi. Put we did get to see the Southern Cross and the pointers.

But still no dark sky, pollution free, reveal.

Finally, we were back at the minibus, but before we got in, Tomas found one more thing to look at. A deer resting a few metres away. I couldn’t help thinking: “You’re pretty, but you don’t belong here. And I’d much rather be seeing a Kiwi.” And remembering the venison pizza that I’d had for tea tonight.

Tomas dropped us all off at our accommodation, which, for most, appeared to be the backpackers. Pen and I were too keyed up – and cold – to go straight back to our room, so we went to the lounge and had a cup of hot water. And listened to a German(?) guy who’d been talking on his mobile phone for almost all the time that we’d been blogging in the lounge before our Kiwi tour and was still talking!

He may have been homesick. And willing to pay a large phone bill.

We finished our hot drinks and retired to our room, deciding to hold off on typing up this blog until the following day… Or more correctly, later today. It was 1.00am when we finally got into bed.

It was simply amazing, and awe inspiring, to see these birds in the wild, totally unfazed by our presence. I kept thinking that D.C. would have loved it https://purupuss.kiwi.nz/2021/05/30/2768/ and hoping that she was with us enjoying the experience.

Thank you for letting me use your camera, D.C.

Steps till midnight = 15,219

Kilometres till midnight = 10.5