Pect Sandpipers on Hurunui and Waipara Rivers, Canty

[Adam C]

So looks like there's a general pattern with Sandpipers in the South Island. Looks like a large percentage arrive and spend a few weeks on riverbeds and mouths before moving to more permanent wintering areas like Ellesmere. I remember you found a few at the Ashburton mouth last year AC, and David Thomas found a sharpie up the Rangitata early season. Remember the Buff-breasted first found at Ashley mouth etc. Wondering if this is standard procedure, or an adaptive behaviour (not counting the Buff Breasted which didn't really know where the hell it was) to refuel properly post migration with places like Ellesmere in deterioration.

[sjacques]

Anja Kohler has recently had a lesser knot and (for second year running) a sharp-tailed sand at the Upukerora mouth on lake Te Anau. Tremendous inland records that go to show that wader migration is by no means just coastal (also the value of regularly checking a local patch).

Cheers,
Sean