Black-tailed godwit, Maketu

[David Riddell]

Was in the area so stopped by briefly today at the Maketu marae to see if we could find Tim's Hudsonian godwit. No sign of it but there was a black-tailed godwit. One of the other godwits obligingly chased it around, making it flap its wings to give good views of the tail, rump and underwing. Otherwise generally smooth grey, rather small, and with a very straight bill. Not many other godwits for it to hide among, just a few small flocks of up to a few dozen each.

[invertebratist]

I might to do a trip to see this individual. Were they on the sand bank you can’t get close to because of the channel?

[David Riddell]

It was on the sand bank in front of the marae. There's a shallow channel to cross but it's less than knee deep at high tide. Good luck!