Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

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andrewcrossland
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Location: Christchurch

Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

Postby andrewcrossland » Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:00 pm

One of Banks Peninsula’s 3 Reef Herons was feeding at the stream mouth at Purau today. First time I’ve seen one there.

Reef Heron Purau.jpg
Reef Heron Purau.jpg (76.26 KiB) Viewed 1153 times
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Adam C
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Re: Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

Postby Adam C » Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:14 pm

Nice Andrew! One Jack has yet to see so might be worth following up!
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
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Adam C
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Re: Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

Postby Adam C » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:49 pm

Birds still present today at midday Right at the creek mouth. Only heron in sight! Thanks Andrew for the tip-off. Jack was pretty stoked!
Reef Heron 2f.jpg
Reef Heron 2f.jpg (689.95 KiB) Viewed 987 times
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
Hypno
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Re: Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

Postby Hypno » Mon Dec 13, 2021 12:02 pm

Do they Breed on the Peninsular?
Jan
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Location: Christchurch

Re: Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

Postby Jan » Tue Dec 14, 2021 9:33 am

Hi Hypno, there always were 2 around the island in Port Levy/Koukourarika [sp] that I assumed were a breeding pair, but if Andrew replies, he will tell you that there's never been evidence of them having juvs.,imms, or anything. So they may not be breeding locally, a great pity, as they have been well and truly ousted by the WFHeron's spread all over the country.
andrewcrossland
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Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Reef Heron at Purau, Lyttelton Hbr

Postby andrewcrossland » Tue Dec 14, 2021 10:05 am

I think they must try to breed, but on our most recent bay/by/bay boat survey in Oct-Nov 2020 we only found 3 adults - all feeding singly between Camp Bay in Lyttelton harbour and the port Levy - Pigeon Bay coastline.

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