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Description
One of the easiest sites in the country for (as of now) the rather rare colonising Australasian Grebe, a self-introduced bird with sporadic population centers mainly in Northland. For a suburban lake, the habitat is actually quite nice and multiple waterbirds including both North Island grebes (the aforementioned Australasian Grebe as well as the endemic New Zealand Dabchick), breeding on the lake. Also a chance for picking out the rare native Pacific Black Duck, although always be careful iding it from very similar hybrids!
Details
Access
Fully public suburban lake in the north of Whangārei and for Google Maps directions you can click on the parking symbol on the map below. There is also a bus stop directly at the site, so can also arrive via public transit. Footpaths go all around the lake, so no need to worry about access. The place with the bird marker is probably the 'best vantage point' but grebes should be able to be seen from all sides.
If only target 'tick grebe', allow 5 minutes or even less! But of course it's always nice to spend time birding, 20-30 minutes is likely reasonable as the site is quite small but may possibly want to allocate more time for photography and the like.
Terrain and Habitat
Park , City/village , PondConditions
FlatCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
NoBest time to visit
SpringRoute
Paved road , Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
Foot , BicycleBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
(Only put best time as Spring for grebe chicks, realistically this site is fine all year round).