MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

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Tim Barnard
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Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:30 pm
Location: Okere Falls

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby Tim Barnard » Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:35 am

Still present yesterday on the inner edge of the spit about a quarter of the way down early on. Best to arrive a couple of hours before high tide. It seems to come in quite early when there aren't many Godwit around so easy to get great views. Once the whole mob sits down amongst the driftwood it becomes much more problemmatic. Not good birdcraft to shift them.
Cheers
Tim
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Last edited by Tim Barnard on Mon Jan 02, 2017 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
wghabbott
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby wghabbott » Sun Jan 01, 2017 10:11 pm

Hi Steve, do we need a scope to find this bird or are binoculars ok? Bill
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Steve Wood
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Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:57 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby Steve Wood » Mon Jan 02, 2017 4:41 pm

Bill a scope is always superior if you want to see it well. However you should pick it up ok if it hasn't roosted yet and is still on the tide line ( pre roosting area) . The Godwits seem to gather close to the roost area on the tidal area, bathing , preening before they get some shut eye.
Remember the above post from Tim if you can get there 2 hrs before High tide this will give you the best chance. When are you coming ? and I will see what I can do to get there.

Steve
wghabbott
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby wghabbott » Mon Jan 02, 2017 4:44 pm

Bird present this afternoon. Easily found on inside of spit with binoculars on incoming tide. Roosted with godwits.
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Steve Wood
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Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby Steve Wood » Mon Jan 02, 2017 4:45 pm

Great.

Steve
wghabbott
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby wghabbott » Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:55 pm

Hi Steve, sorry not to alert you to our trip earlier. It would have been good to meet up. Bill.
John Woods
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Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:06 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby John Woods » Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:09 am

Another couple of photos taken yesterday of the Dowitcher, including one in flight showing some underwing detail.

John
Dowitcher (1 of 3).jpg
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Dowitcher (3 of 3).jpg
Dowitcher (3 of 3).jpg (112.45 KiB) Viewed 2703 times
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philbattley
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Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 2:21 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby philbattley » Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:03 pm

Great shots! I remember Beth Brown recalling the bird they had at Miranda a long time ago showed itself by flashing its white underwing up out of a flock of godwits - that was the first giveaway they had that something else was hiding in there. Nice to see it on this bird too.

Cheers, Phil
igor
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Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby igor » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:07 pm

Present again today (in the rain), as described. Thanks Steve and others for the news, detailed directions and updates. For those wondering about wading back at high tide - it gets very deep very quick!
Cheers,
Igor
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Steve Wood
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Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:57 pm

Re: MEGA - Asiatic Dowitcher Motueka Spit. Ho.. Ho.. Ho!

Postby Steve Wood » Fri Jan 06, 2017 7:23 pm

Still here at 18:30 . hard to find amongst main roost. seen briefly.

Steve

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