Shore Plovers at Plimmerton
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:52 pm
Following up reported sightings of four Shore Plovers on the beach by the Plimmerton Fire Station early yesterday 6 June, and approx 14 birds found there in late afternoon by one of the OSNZ conference field trips, the site was visited again by a few conference stragglers.
Early on with the tide low, but rising only 4 birds were present, however by 11am atleast 7 birds were in the area. I had to return to WGTN briefly to take Sue Odlin to the airport, but returned at about 1pm.
I can confirm that by early afternoon on a high tide the beach was host to AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR Shore Plovers - this must be the largest flock of these birds to be seen on the New Zealand Mainland for over a century (perhaps ever) - representing approx 15% of the world population. A truly awesome experience shared by Neil Robertson (Southland), Sue Odlin (Otago), Morag and Simon Fordham (Auckland) and a bird photographer from Palmerston north. The birds were extremely tolerant of the presence of humans and would frequently approach to within 1.5 - 2 metres while feeding on the high tide line.
The sightings on 6 June suggested that the flock consisted of juvenile birds dispersing from the small breeding population on Mana Island, however a number of older birds were present in the flock seen on 7 June. Perhaps this movement is related to the state of the tide which causes the birds to leave roosting or feeding sites on Mana at high tide.
For those interested I have listed the colour band combinations (Upper Left - Lower Left - Upper Right - Lower Right)
W=White, Y=Yellow, R=Red, B=Blue, O=Orange, G=Green N=No bands present.
N(Amp)-N, BWGR, BWOG, BWWG, GRRG, GYGW, N-WG, ROBO, ROBW, WYBR, WYGB, WYGO, WYRW, WYRY, WYWR, WYYB, WYYR, YGOY, YRBR, YRGW, YRWB, YRWO, YRBY, YRGB.
There were two birds observed roosting and hopping where I could only record single leg combinations of OY and RY, I will study video footage to confirm which leg - if Left leg then these are birds 25 and 26.
Needless to say I took lots of video, trying to capture footage of as many of the individual birds as possible, Simon also took many (hundreds) of photos. I am happy to make the video available to anyone who is following up the development of the birds as they approach maturity, there is a lot of variation, in plumage especially around the head and neck, and also in bill colour.
Neil Robertson
Early on with the tide low, but rising only 4 birds were present, however by 11am atleast 7 birds were in the area. I had to return to WGTN briefly to take Sue Odlin to the airport, but returned at about 1pm.
I can confirm that by early afternoon on a high tide the beach was host to AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR Shore Plovers - this must be the largest flock of these birds to be seen on the New Zealand Mainland for over a century (perhaps ever) - representing approx 15% of the world population. A truly awesome experience shared by Neil Robertson (Southland), Sue Odlin (Otago), Morag and Simon Fordham (Auckland) and a bird photographer from Palmerston north. The birds were extremely tolerant of the presence of humans and would frequently approach to within 1.5 - 2 metres while feeding on the high tide line.
The sightings on 6 June suggested that the flock consisted of juvenile birds dispersing from the small breeding population on Mana Island, however a number of older birds were present in the flock seen on 7 June. Perhaps this movement is related to the state of the tide which causes the birds to leave roosting or feeding sites on Mana at high tide.
For those interested I have listed the colour band combinations (Upper Left - Lower Left - Upper Right - Lower Right)
W=White, Y=Yellow, R=Red, B=Blue, O=Orange, G=Green N=No bands present.
N(Amp)-N, BWGR, BWOG, BWWG, GRRG, GYGW, N-WG, ROBO, ROBW, WYBR, WYGB, WYGO, WYRW, WYRY, WYWR, WYYB, WYYR, YGOY, YRBR, YRGW, YRWB, YRWO, YRBY, YRGB.
There were two birds observed roosting and hopping where I could only record single leg combinations of OY and RY, I will study video footage to confirm which leg - if Left leg then these are birds 25 and 26.
Needless to say I took lots of video, trying to capture footage of as many of the individual birds as possible, Simon also took many (hundreds) of photos. I am happy to make the video available to anyone who is following up the development of the birds as they approach maturity, there is a lot of variation, in plumage especially around the head and neck, and also in bill colour.
Neil Robertson