Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
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Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
1 pied phase otago shag at Ashburton rivermouth amongst a roost of 7000 spotted shag at dusk tonight.
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
Hi Andrew
Can you confirm that's 7000 (not 700)?
That amount of shags flying in would be an impressive sight
cheers
jim
Can you confirm that's 7000 (not 700)?
That amount of shags flying in would be an impressive sight
cheers
jim
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
the actual count was 7180. I do monthly counts for Environment Canty and they peak at 6000-7000+ at this time of year. I think its by far the largest spotted shag roosting flock anywhere. Here's a pic of most of the flock.
And here's a pic (cell phone camera thru scope) of the Stewart Island Shag
And here's a pic (cell phone camera thru scope) of the Stewart Island Shag
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
Thanks - wow very impressive - yes must be surely the biggest congregation of the species left?
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
There were 3 Otago Shags amongst c.7370 Spotted Shags at the roost at Ashburton Rivermouth this evening. These were 2 bronze phase birds and an adult pied phase (so birds different to the juv pied phase seen on my census last month).
A heads up to people visiting places that are night roosts for Spotted Shags on the Canterbury Bight coastline - eg; Timaru Harbour, Rangitata Rivermouth, Rakaia Rivermouth, etc. I reckon small numbers of Otago Shags now reach South and Mid Canterbury waters well north of the traditionbal limit about opposite Lake Ki-Wainono, and they can be potentially seen within a half hour or so of sunset when they join Spotted Shags at favoured night roosts. So, please have a look if anyone has a chance and report what you find?
Here' s some pics. Although the photos don't show it well, the pinkish legs and feet were very obvious under the brightness of the setting sun.
A heads up to people visiting places that are night roosts for Spotted Shags on the Canterbury Bight coastline - eg; Timaru Harbour, Rangitata Rivermouth, Rakaia Rivermouth, etc. I reckon small numbers of Otago Shags now reach South and Mid Canterbury waters well north of the traditionbal limit about opposite Lake Ki-Wainono, and they can be potentially seen within a half hour or so of sunset when they join Spotted Shags at favoured night roosts. So, please have a look if anyone has a chance and report what you find?
Here' s some pics. Although the photos don't show it well, the pinkish legs and feet were very obvious under the brightness of the setting sun.
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
another pic of the roost
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
Five Otago Shags at the Ashburton rivermouth this evening amongst c.8130 Spotted Shags (a larger number than usual).
The Otago Shags were 1 ad pied phase, 1 imm pied phase and 3 imm bronze phase.
Also present, chasing W/F Terns offshore, were 2 late season Arctic Skuas.
The Otago Shags were 1 ad pied phase, 1 imm pied phase and 3 imm bronze phase.
Also present, chasing W/F Terns offshore, were 2 late season Arctic Skuas.
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
3 Otago Shags at Ashburton Rivermouth today amongst a flock of 10,000 Spotted Shags. A pretty impressive sight!! Spot the pied morph in the centre of this pic...... a small pin in a very big haystack. The other two were juv bronze phase birds.
Some views of the Spotted Shag roost...
The slightly larger white splot in the top right corner of the pic below is the Pied morph Otago Shag..
Some views of the Spotted Shag roost...
The slightly larger white splot in the top right corner of the pic below is the Pied morph Otago Shag..
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- AngryBird45
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Re: Otago (Stewart Island) Shag Ashburton rivermouth
I'm shocked at how few people have a Stewart Island Shag on their Canterbury Life List; Timaru's Inner Harbour is a really easy place to find one
133 birds on my life list since 17 June 2020, latest bird Common Tern.
93 birds on my 2024 year list as of 6:50pm 13 January, latest bird Indian Peafowl.
15 y/o birder from the Waimak and Paradise Shelduck campaigner: facebook.com/paradiseshelduck.
93 birds on my 2024 year list as of 6:50pm 13 January, latest bird Indian Peafowl.
15 y/o birder from the Waimak and Paradise Shelduck campaigner: facebook.com/paradiseshelduck.