Had a great day out on Motuhie Island in the Hauraki Gulf yesterday. Did a bit of volunteer work in the nursery then set off to go and check on the NZ dotterels on Ohinerau Beach. For those of you who dont know the site its a NZ Dott ( & VOC) breeding site with typically 9+ pairs with a large rock platform exposed at mid-low tide at the base of a sand/shell beach. The platform is a good feeding area and as its so shallow prevents boats from coming to shore so not v. busy. The island is also pest free (recently had Kiwi released there) so the dotts dont get hassled by any mammalian predators but pukeko's, gulls and harriers are still a risk to them.
As we were there at low tide, all the birds were out on the platform and no territorial or protective behaviour shown towards us as we walked along the beach where they usually nest. Too early at this site possibly- or perhaps they were just too hungry to be bothered
Low tide makes it easier here to check for colour bands as its a narrow beach and quite crowded otherwise. Also easier to see pairs too.
Total count was 23 NZ dotterel plus another possible two - this number seems to be typical of this site at this time of yr. Of the 23, 17 were colour banded. Pairs almost same as last year - will wait another month and check this out again hopefully.
Some coming into colour quite handsomely.
Others that they share their patch with included:
1 VOC pair at Calypso bay -no bands
2 Saddlebacks (released a few yrs back) in a fallen pohutukawa tree on the beach - great viewing at only 3m away! - no bands.
7 VOC pairs - no bands
4 Paradise ducks
2 Caspian Terns
8 Blackback gulls in two groups - we've seen these guys take an NZ dott chick here before
2 Redbill gulls
2 mallard
2 grey duck
1 little black shag
2 pied shag
As you walk over the island from the wharf to the beach you can hear saddlebacks v frequently, heaps of grey warbler, spooked a quail but couldnt i.d.species, rosellas, kereru. Have also seen morepork before and kakariki have been released here too as have shore skinks if you're more into reptiles!
The planted bush areas are really coming along. We first visited 3+ yrs ago and there's a huge difference.
Highly recommend it as a spot to visit. 360 Discovery have transport there at weekends. There's a DOC campsite and if you get involved with the volunteer work there's a volunteers cabin too for overnight stays. Great beaches and a fair amount of history to the island too.
Cheers
Emma