The year has started well with being able to tick off many more bird species that I have never photographed before. Most of them are only found in the South Island of New Zealand. As I live in the North Island, opportunity is a big part of why I haven’t seen them before. We remedied that with a trip to Stewart Island in mid January when the weather was absolutely perfect. I hope you enjoy this small collection of firsts for me. I will name each bird in the captions.
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3162056-RW2-Edit.jpg)
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3162065-RW2-Edit.jpg)
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3162294-RW2-Edit.jpg)
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3221022-RW2-Edit.jpg)
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3175714-RW2_DxO_DeepPRIME-Edit-1.jpg)
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3198393-RW2-Edit.jpg)
![](https://www.digitalpix.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/P3210726-Edit-1.jpg)