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Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:19 am
by kengeorge
Anybody know if the Black Stilt that has been seen in the Ashley River estuary is still there? Or around elsewhere?

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:54 am
by Oscar Thomas
It was there on the morning of the 26th of April along with the Grey-tailed tattler, a kotuku and 25 Black-fronted terns.

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 5:13 pm
by Bev Alexander
Both birds present mid afternoon today. Also 1 Wrybill roosting with Banded Dotterel on spit

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 11:02 pm
by kengeorge
Thanks for info Oscar and Bev, can you be a bit more specific, I've not visited that estuary before, do I come in from the River Road (north side of the river) or the Waikuku Beach side on the south side of the river? Many thanks.

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 11:13 pm
by Oscar Thomas
Go to the end of Rotten Row on the south side to the carpark. From there you can walk out to the estuary and all the birds I mentioned are usually just feeding not too far downstream.

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 7:30 pm
by kengeorge
Thanks Oscar, got it! Exactly where you said it would be, much appreciated. There was a hybrid there too. Suprised by the number of starlings who seem to be heading down the wader evolutionary path.
Happy birding.

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 10:09 pm
by Oscar Thomas
Is this the hybrid you saw?
hybridstilt.jpg
hybridstilt.jpg (292.47 KiB) Viewed 3127 times

Plus one of the Kaki
kakione.jpg
kakione.jpg (193.92 KiB) Viewed 3127 times

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 8:23 am
by kengeorge
Yep, that's the one. Great shots Oscar. It was good to finally get the kaki as a tick after unsuccessfully looking for it a few times down in the central South Island a few years ago. Next on the list is rock wren, hope to see that later in the year.

Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 7:57 pm
by andrewcrossland
The Black Stilt was at the usual place on the Ashley Estuary today. Also present was the Grey-tailed Tattler (in breeding plumage), 1 Wrybill, 52 Banded Dotterel, 30 Pied Stilt, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 SIPO, 4 hybrid oystercatcher, 19 Variable Oystercatcher, 72 B/F Tern and 124 Spotted Shag.