On my first visit to Ellangowan reserve and Hickory Bay on Banks Peninsula I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of birds and the wide range of plants in the reserve.
In addition to a number of ngiru-ngiru (tomtits) I saw many korimako (bellbirds) including at one time being surrounded by a noisy flock of a dozen or more calling and squabbling and displaying to each other. Also riroriro (grey warbler) tauhou (silvereye), piwakawaka (fantail) and (on the tops) pihoihoi (pipit).