Godwits..........movement

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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Alan Rollason
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:57 am

Godwits..........movement

Postby Alan Rollason » Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:01 pm

Hi all
Been in a new home since July 2017 quite high up overlooking the Whitford / Mangemangeroa estuary with
views to the Manuakau heads and Waitaks.
This evening has been exceptional for Godwits flying over from east to west....Whitford area to Manukau.
I must have seen several very large groups that total up toward 1000 at least! Is there any left at Miranda?? :D
Often see 50-150 a night but this has been superb and it's only 7pm!
Just saying.

Cheers
Alan
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philbattley
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Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 2:21 pm

Re: Godwits..........movement

Postby philbattley » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:02 pm

Hi Alan,
There's a well-known and regular movement between the Manukau Harbour and Whitford Estuary. Because of the difference in tide times you can get (from memory!) quite large groups from the Manukau moving to Whitford after the east coast high tide and before the west coast high tide. It's pretty weird to be at the lights near Botany Downs and see flocks of godwits and knots overhead, and pretty cool to be at Whitford when 500+ godwits come tumbling down to the flats there. Maybe the big numbers you were getting are due to the size of the tides over the past week.
Cheers, Phil
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Alan Rollason
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:57 am

Re: Godwits..........movement

Postby Alan Rollason » Fri Feb 09, 2018 5:46 pm

Thanks Phil, there were some large tides and it was great to see Godwits flying by at eye level about 10m away sometimes!
More big tides please.

Alan

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