Wellington City biodiversity

[Michael Szabo]

A flock of 9 Wrybills were seen at Waikanae Estuary on Wednesday and then a single Wrybill was photographed on Petone beach the following day.

[ledzep]

A Falcon first heard calling then seen clearly in top of a tall fir tree on Silverstream Road in Crofton Downs opposite Spencer St. The Tui's were upset. Eventually it flew off getting mobbed a bit by the Tui's.

[Oscar Thomas]

Sila Viriyautsahakul photographed a juvenile sharp-tailed sandpiper at Waikanae Estuary this morning.

[ledzep]

Thanks for the notice. Several Godwit, one Knot and the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper half way down the channel on Waikanae spit. Several NZ Dotterel also around and the Spoonbill now seem very used to humans.

[ledzep]

Falcon calling in flight circling about Te Papa and Shed 22 on Wellington wharf around 1.20 pm today. Also a gull being mobbed by others, there was something trailing behind the tail, I assume some debris caught on the birds legs. After the other gulls flew off the gull flew around a bit clearly concerned about the trailing object, then eventually went down onto the water (rather than land). I couldn't see exactly what the object was, appeared to be string or perhaps netting about 10 - 15 cm long, resulting in drag on the bird in flight, trailing behind the legs and tail.

[ledzep]

Saw a Tomtit today on the ECNZ Pylon track above Gracefield, -43.231153 174.934547, near the junction and sign for the Wainui biking tracks. On the way down the bush tracks near the Te Whiti firebreak (I think is is the Konini Saddle track) I heard Whiteheads calling at -41.22607 174.932201. This isn't far from Waiwhetu, up from the end of White Lines East. These bush tracks are quite rough and steep, in case anyone else is thinking of doing them. Te Whiti Riser is the gentle trail.

[chauceye@gmail.com]

Hello Ledzep. Yesterday I saw your Crofton Downs Falcon, along with another falcon. They were near the playground. Nice surprise to see them there when I went down for a walk with my daughter, hoping to practice using my camera. I'm a new birder and new to using cameras too.

[ledzep]

Thanks for the update, glad it is still around.

[Wrybill]

Does anyone know if the Sharpie is still at the Waikanae Estuary, I'm thinking of heading down this week-end

[ledzep]

Was on the bush tracks at the back of Stokes Valley up to ECNZ road today and there were plenty of Tomtits around. Saw several up on the ECNZ road, but there were also a number calling lower down near the Kamahi St entrance. I've also seen them near the Tawhai St entrance in the past.