Banded-Dotterel Swimming in Otaki River

[Wrybill]

1 Non-Breeding Very Friendly Banded-Dotterel Swimming in the Otaki River At the Mouth today while Birding the Bird was Very Friendly and got to within a Metre of me and Tama.

Photos were obtained and the bird Ran rather than flew away from us it did extend its wings when we got to close but only flew at first out over the river and then landed on it and swam back to shore.

Cheers'

Wrybill/Saul

[paradoxdinokipi]

That's interesting haven't heard of that behaviour before, could you post the photos you took to this thread?

[Jan]

Sounds as though the bird may have been unwell or injured. Adult birds don't normally swim if they can fly, but chicks and imms will swim readily.

[Wrybill]

Possibly as that was our first thought.

[nzrobin]

Wow Wrybill I have never heard of this it is indeed strange.

Cheers'
A