Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

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sav
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Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby sav » Mon Jun 17, 2024 12:21 pm

Hi all,

In early January, two Marsh Sandpipers were seen at Southern Marsh, Napier. By the end of January there were three, and these remained through to at least mid-February. I don't think anybody saw them through March or April and the obvious assumption/expectation is that they would have migrated North.

Much to their surprise, Wayne and Margaret Twydle refound them (at the same place) about three weeks ago, and then yesterday 5 (Five!) Marsh Sandpipers were present.

I looked this morning and could only (!!!??) find 4 feeding together but may have seen all 5 - one (maybe 2?) bird was quite mobile.

Wintering Marsh Sand is unusual, and a group of 5 in New Zealand is also quite remarkable - both together........????

cheers
Sav Saville
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
Great Birds, Real Birders
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Michael Szabo
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby Michael Szabo » Mon Jun 17, 2024 2:43 pm

Lynne Anderson also saw them during the Birds New Zealand winter wader survey there yesterday and took these photos.

You can read about Birds New Zealand's nationwide wader survey scheme here: https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/schemes/nati ... der-count/
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Jan
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby Jan » Mon Jun 17, 2024 3:27 pm

Hi Sav,
Is there any chance these 5 might have been juvs when they arrived? Can u tell? It is certainly very special.
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sav
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby sav » Mon Jun 17, 2024 3:50 pm

Jan wrote:Hi Sav,
Is there any chance these 5 might have been juvs when they arrived? Can u tell? It is certainly very special.


Hi Jan,

I think there is every chance that they are first year birds. None of them are showing any sign of breeding plumage, and the fact that they have remained here increases the odds. Proper juvenile plumage would have been lost by the time they were first seen - I believe.

cheers
Sav Saville
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
Great Birds, Real Birders
Jan
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby Jan » Mon Jun 17, 2024 4:30 pm

Must have been a good breeding season somewhere, then!
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Ken George
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby Ken George » Sun Jun 23, 2024 4:34 pm

Anybody seen the sandpipers in the last week? Still around or moved on?
Hamish Johnston
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby Hamish Johnston » Sun Jun 23, 2024 5:26 pm

I got distant views of two today. Others may have been around but only viewed the southern marsh from the easternmost point.
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Byrd
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby Byrd » Sun Aug 25, 2024 9:56 am

Just as an update, I was in Napier and no sign of the Marsh Sandpipers around the different ponds yesterday or today.

I did see a pair of Rooks flying over the South Pond this morning.
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benackerley
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Re: Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

Postby benackerley » Mon Oct 28, 2024 5:50 pm

7 present now at the scrapes
Cheers, Ben

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