Page 4 of 11

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:54 pm
by adamclarke
For those interested, a couple more images from early this morning. One shows the phalarope standing among other birdlife at the lagoon, the other having a swim/forage at the adjacent scrape pond.
Wouldn't it be just awesome if this bird stays put long enough to go into breeding plumage!

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:41 pm
by Will Parsons
PHALAROPE IN BREEDING PLUMAGE.jpg
PHALAROPE IN BREEDING PLUMAGE.jpg (301.19 KiB) Viewed 2196 times
Just found this post as have been distracted by other events in Marlborough! Under heading of previous records I noticed one omission and that was the siting of the pair in breeding plumage at Lake Grassmere in 2006-2007. See photo.

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:08 pm
by RussCannings
Hi Will,

I believe those birds were both Red-necked Phalaropes (The bird in the photo certainly is). Still great for NZ though!

Cheers,

Russ

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:14 pm
by andrewcrossland
Yeah, wrong species. Were these the red necked phalaropes that were seen on the dune lake between lake grassmere and the sea about 15 years ago?

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 9:40 pm
by Will Parsons
Thanks guys- mistaken identity.

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 9:28 am
by Richard Fenner
I'm heading down to Napier on Sunday to have a look so if anyone sees it today (Saturday) I'd be most grateful for the information on when and where. Has the state of the tide been making any difference to where it's hanging out?
Thanks, Richard

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 1:41 pm
by adamclarke
Hi Richard

I haven't been myself today, but the local OSNZ group are doing a census at Ahuriri and Westshore so someone will probably reply with a sighting later. The state of the tides has been making no difference as to there the phalarope has been situated, for it simply seems to enjoy staying at the reserve. I don't have the knowledge on why, but both the lagoon and scrapes are not affected by the tidal flows that show so dramatically at Ahuriri River.

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:00 pm
by sav
Hi all,

I picked Steve Wood up from the airport at 9.25 this morning and the phalarope was on it's favourite scrape, the one with floating algae, when we got there 10 mins later. It slept, swam, fed and slept again during the hour or so that we were there.

cheers

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:32 pm
by erikforsyth
Hi all

Left Whakatane at 0430am and arrived at the "The Scrapes" at 0800am today. Found John Jackson from Christchurch watching the phalarope already and after setting up scope, had great scope looks, while the bird fed and preened. John headed off at 0900am and and I left around 1000am. Also met Jim and Angie doing a wetland bird survey and we scoped the phalarope from the main road.

Many thanks to Ian again for finding this mega.

Cheers
Erik Forsyth
Rockjumper Birding Tours
www.rockjumperbirding.com

Re: *MEGA* Wilson's Phalarope Ahuriri Napier

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:12 pm
by ledzep
Duncan and Dianne can confirm that the bird is still there in The Scrapes lagoon Sat late afternoon. Preening and feeding in the late afternoon sun.