Marsh crake, Ahuriri Napier

[ourspot]

Thanks Brent for the mention of the Marsh Crake you sighted the other day. Went to Southern Marsh today for a look about 5.30pm and bumped into Mike and Tim who were already there. In the 2 hours we stayed we saw at least 3 separate Marsh Crakes all within a 5 to 10 metres from us and they didn't seem to mind our presence. We've never managed to find one Marsh Crake before (let alone three of them) so we were very excited. The bonus was 2 Spotless Crakes (one at the same spot and another we found further along the track). Managed to get an average shot of them both together. Great day - Ahuriri is a fantastic spot.

Cheers
Scott, Helen, Ollie , Zef and Jay Brooks
The Great New Zealand Bird Tour 2016

[Oscar Thomas]

Great shot, and they both appear to be juvenile birds. At least the spotless does with the pale front and dull eye-ring. I'm super jealous, and have already used up my Napier privileges this year with a birding conference and phalarope trip. I'll have to wait until reliable marsh crakes are uncovered in Auckland They have recently been discoved at Te Henga Wetlands but in low numbers and inaccessible areas.

[Michael Szabo]

Yes, neither of these two species is easy to see so getting a shot on both in one image is quite an achievement, Scott!
Did you see them from the wooden fence 'hide' or from the track that runs along the embankment?

Cheers
Michael

[ourspot]

We saw the crakes from on the embankment track - there seems to be ideal territory from about halfway along the track until you get to the gate near where the sandpipers are being seen (2 pectoral and three sharpies were present yesterday as well). The crakes were amongst the reeds where there were small pools, and tended to hang around the edges pecking at tiny bugs. Cheers Scott

[Jim_j]

Wow - that is great - both crakes in the one spot and caught on camera.
Perhaps Marsh Crakes are not as rare in the NI as has been suggested - or maybe numbers are increasing?

cheers
jim

[rukuhia]

Is the southern marsh the area south of the outfall river and west of main road?

[Wayne & Marg Twydle]

Yes, Southern Marsh is south of the channel and on the western side of the expressway. If you require a PDF map of birding areas at Ahuriri please let me know.
Regards
Wayne Twydle

[boneywhitefoot]

I would not mind a pdf please Wayne

[Wayne & Marg Twydle]

Okay. Will email shortly.
Regards
Wayne

[boneywhitefoot]

thank you Wayne message received