Manawatu Estuary 4 May 2024

[Paul Gibson]

A massive number of water birds here this morning, to the background boom of duck shooters. Up to 300 Canada geese, coming and going constantly, 240 grey teal and heaps of others. 25 spoonbill, 48 godwits, including one with green flag from Queensland (FDC), wrybills, banded dotterels, Caspian terns, wf terns etc, and the long staying little egret has just been putting on a good show for us. Great morning to be here.

20240504100218__77A3982.JPG (166.71 KiB) Viewed 420 times

[Suzi]

Fab photo Paul. I'm interested in travelling to see the Little Egret. Could you recommend a good viewing point for it at the Manawatu estuary please? Is low/mid/high tide the best time? I've been there once before - last year. TIA, Suzi

[Paul Gibson]

Hi Suzi, we were there five days, and we had the little egret around on two of those days. When the tide is out, he sometimes walks along the water channel that is in front of the viewing platform, at the end of Darwick Street (by the motel). Sometimes we would see him over the far side of the river, recognisable by his feeding manner, rushing around with wings raised. So it's a bit of a chance thing, and I think low tide is better. Plenty of spoonbills around and sometimes he is with them, in the grasses to the right of the viewing platform.