Cape Barren Geese at Washdyke/Waitarakaio Lagoon

[Paul Sagar]

This morning Joy & I completed our monthly count of waterbirds at Washdyke/Waitarakaio Lagoon and among the sightings was a group of 3 Cape Barren Geese, the most recorded at this location. We've recorded single birds there since 2015, with 2 appearing since 2020 but have not recorded any since April 2023. Most of the sightings have been in late summer and autumn, with the birds likely occurring in the maze of waterways upstream of the lagoon at other times of the year.

[Paul Sagar]

The 3 Cape barren Geese were at Washdyke/Waitarakao Lagoon again this morning, feeding more or less in the same area as last month on the flats between the water level recorder and the stopback on the western side of the lagoon.

Further along the western there were 17 black-fronted dotterels.