Kaipara Waders and a small Big Day

[Shane McPherson]

I visited the Tapora wader roost yesterday. Still plenty of national migrants in the north.

Banded Dotterel 150 in fantastic rich plumage
Wrybill 50 (down from around 180 a month ago)
SIPO unknown quanitity, over 1200 at the northern roost (Journeys End), but many flying east inland to floooded pasture. Although it certainly seems plenty have up and gone.
Stilt 200
Godwit and Knot in their low winter numbers
NZ Dotterel 25! including a banded bird L:metal, Rtibia:red, Rtarsus:org/white

Left from Pouto before dawn, and made an impromptu decision to go for a (trial) big day. Ya know, just for kicks. A work day so I couldnt go all out, and if prepared wouldve started at mignight on a kiwi hunt or suchlike. But seeing that Tapora was part of our work day, and we would be finishing up early, then... why not.

Stopped off in Dargaville for a sunrise search for Galah, no luck. Blasted on down to Tapora where we easily picked up our quota of shorebirds, another long drive back to Pouto and, with plenty of light in the day, sussed out the lakes and wetlands in our backyard. An attempted 'shortcut' to the beach brought the session to a prompt halt... a dusk spend digging out wheels out of the sand. Although done on a whim, it was a good chance to think about locations, timing, seasons and what species could and coudnt be got. We definitely missed out on pelagics, and unfortunately the late afternoon didnt provide any crake or bittern from the wetlands, also brown quail and peacock were obscure. Some outstanding dips include shoveler and white-fronted tern (how could you have missed!). Over the summer season we would be able to add golden plover, turnstone, stint, sandpiper, and shining cuckoo... but would more than likely miss out on banded dotterel and wrybill. Tying in a pelagic wouldve made a hude impact, and also a forest santuary couldve added a bunch of forest natives, and possibly a kokako at this time of year.

A total of 55 species, mostly of farmland and shorebird species. This total could be disputed depending on your definition, I choose to include chooks, muscovy, and graylag goose in a free-living state... mainly out of desperation. Falling well shy of Russell C's Big Day of 70 in Otago last October.

0630-1930
GRAYLAG GOOSE (dom)
CANADA GOOSE
BLACK SWAN
PARADISE SHELDUCK
MUSCOVY DUCK (dom)
MALLARD (and hybrids BLACK DUCK)
GRAY TEAL
SCAUP
RED JUNGLEFOWL
RING NECKED PHESANT
TURKEY
CALIFORNIAN QUAIL
NZ GREBE
GANNET
BLACK CORMORANT
PIED CORMORANT
LITTLE PIED SHAG
LITTLE BLACK SHAG
WHITE FACED HERON
SWAMP HARRIER
PUKEKO
MASKED LAPWING
NZ DOTTEREL
BANDED DOTTEREL
PIED OYSTERCATCHER
VARIABLE OYSTERCATCHER
PIED STILT
BAR TAILED GODWIT
LESSER KNOT
RED BILLED GULL
KELP GULL
CASPIAN TERN
NZ PIGEON
EASTERN ROSELLA
MOREPORK
SACRED KINGFISHER
TUI
MAGPIE
FANTAIL
SKYLARK
WELCOME SWALLOW
GERYGONE
FERNBIRD
BLACKBIRD
SONG THRUSH
SILVEREYE
STARLING
MYNA
DUNNOCK
PIPIT
YELLOWHAMMER
CHAFFINCH
GREENFINCH
GOLDFINCH
SPARROW

[pauljk]

Hi,

Can anyone please let me know how to access the Tapora wader roost. Would love directions if possible?

Cheers

Paul

[Shane McPherson]

Hi Paul

The following directions will take you to 520 Okahukura Rd. There you will see a DoC sign on the roadside indicating the 4x4 road to Manukuapa island. It is a public right of way thru farmland, be sure to leave gates as you find them. Most people will go thru the old wooden gate and park under the old pines. From there you can walk a couple hundered meters to the causeway. From there you can sight north and south and the waders will roost at various locations depending on tide and wind. On a large tide (4.0m and over) the best spot is to head to the north end of the island, where eveything gets really packed in. Try and time it so you have an hour or more before a (Pouto Point) high tide, plenty of time to walk out and find the best spot as the tide rushes in.

FROM WELLSFORD, south on SH16 13km to the Wharehine turnoff, head west (Wharehine road becomes Run road) 22km until you get to the Tapora Primary School, then straight on 3.5km Okahakura Road til you get to the DoC sign on the left hand side.

Route to Tapora.JPG (36.69 KiB) Viewed 3822 times

If your not up for a hike with the scope, another more accessable and less time consuming place to visit is Journeys End. From Tapora School, take the right hand road and follow that 6km all the way to a pretty little village on the shore. If you walk 200m north past the mangroves you will be able to scope the "atoll" from the small beach. Look out for the leucistic Variable Oystercatcher, usually hangs out there. Its a better place to visit on lower high tides... on big tides the atoll is submerged and most seem to head to Manukuapa. Also, summer last year, this is where we saw 7 Whimberel.

Journeys end.JPG (26.97 KiB) Viewed 3822 times

Shane

[pauljk]

Hi Shane,

Many thanks for the detailed directions.

Cheers

Paul