BirdingNZ.net

Hey everyone,
Myself and Johannes Fischer observed an adult little egret in partial breeding plumage today amongst the godwits and stilts. It was rather approachable and didn’t seem too phased by people.

Also observed were:
1 Kotuku
6 barwits one flagged BEZ
1 red knot with a transmitter (sorry Phil!) flagged ECB
6 banded dotterels
40+ stilts
One white fronted tern
3 caspian tern
10 spoonbills

David

Wonderful views of the little egret this morning.

Beautiful pictures Imogen, you have got the whites perfect.

The egret was still around last weekend, hanging out right by the walkway.
Phil

Egret present late this afternoon and was teamed up with a little black shag. Never seen anything quite like it.

Update on the Kotuku and Little Egret at Foxton. There was a group of us up there today (myself, Dianne, Paul Gibson, Peter Frost, Phil Battley) and we checked out the estuary and also Lake Omanu (fish & game permit needed for entry). There was one White Heron and the Little Egret at Lake Omanu. The Little Egret quite active feeding on the far side of the lake. At Foxton Estuary there was one White Heron in the morning, and Paul reported two later in the afternoon which we believe we additional to the one at Lake Omanu (ie 3 Kotuku total). Two Spoonbill at the estuary near the viewing platform, but no Spoonbill at Lake Omanu.

To add to Duncan's post, the Little Egret was foraging alone along the water's edge on the far side of the lake. I managed to get reasonably close to it but could not see what it was catching, but they must have been small (insects?). It was wading in water up to its thighs in places. Here are a couple of photos: nowhere near as good as Imogen's but for the record.




The White Heron left the lake sometime between 2:05 pm (last seen just before I started photographing the egret) and 2:10 (after the egret had flown off and I looked up to see where the White Heron was; it had gone). Paul photographed two White Herons on the estuary, just under 3 km away, at 2:16. One cannot rule out the possibility that the second heron on the estuary, additional to the one there in the morning, was the bird from Lake Omanu.

Other species present included Canada Geese (101), Black Swan (36), NZ Dabchick (39 minimum), Grey Teal (32); NZ Scaup (29); Australasian Shoveller (19); Mallard (56); and one Grey Duck with extremely well marked facial pattern and olive-grey legs (seen through 45x scope, but unfortunately too far way for photograph). A full list will go on to New Zealand eBird.

Peter

Hi all,

This, or another(?) Little Egret was at Foxton Beach, viewing platform off Dawick St, last Wednesday 7 November. Sorry for the late news. via Matt Jones.

cheers