Mega northern pintail tip Lagoon Invers

[sjacques]

Female type associating with Aus shovelers in NE corner. Found it about fifteen minutes ago, watching now In failing light. Will try to upload some record shots soon,

Sean

[FraserGurney]

Well done Sean!

I'm traveling South (as I'm sure others will be) early tomorrow - will you keep us updated in the morning?

Looking forward to the photos!

[Davidthomas]

Good spotting as always Sean!

Looking forward to seeing the photos, not looking forward to the long long drive tomorrow though...

[sjacques]

Was out for an opportunistic scan late evening after dropping my teenager at a party. Found the bird 2000 approx, viewing far bank from the bird hide. Was initially on it's own. Saw it upending at first and tail shape struck me straight away. When it bobbed up the long neck, smallish rounded head and long bill with concave upper mandible all shouted pintail at me.

I legged it around to the North end of the Lagoon for a better view, bird was nearer to shovelers by then and spent rest of daylight associating with a drake shoveler. Light was never great, but got good views of plain, unpatterned face, even greyish bill with dark nail, nostril and cutting edges. Tail when upending extended well beyond crossed wingtip, pale sides at base but otherwise mottled brown. Bird not seen to fly or wing stretch so no view of speculum.

Joe Bliss joined me approx 2030, bird was still in reasonable silhouette view, and we could still see it 2040, loosely with the shoveler group in NE corner. I'm aiming to be there again approx 0930 tomorrow.

Cheers,
Sean

[Davidthomas]

Looks pretty bloody good to me! Will see you bright and early in the morning!

[sjacques]

Fading light phone scope pic gives it an inaccurate reddish hue here, but shape is true.

[sjacques]

Showing very well now in excellent light, still paired with drake shoveler, North East part of Lagoon

Cheers,
Sean

[sjacques]

Boom shanty

[Phil Rhodes]

Well done Sean, once again you come up with the goods, had great views this morning, what a cracker and a lifer for me, along with approx 20 other birders from around the south island. I guess this would be Southland's largest number of birders seen together for a twitch.
Great to catch up with a few familiar faces and meet up with others for the first time. I hope more local birders take the opportunity to see this bird.
There is also a Marsh Sandpiper hanging around the lagoon and on adjoining estuary, disappeared as the tide came in so will check again tomorrow or Tuesday.

[Oscar Thomas]

Apparently the bird flew off an hour or two ago and hasn’t been seen since unfortunately. No luck at the nearby sewage ponds either. A few more have been searching for it this afternoon and will go into the evening