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Mangere today

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:43 pm
by Christopher
Currently looking at a black tailed godwit in the mudflats at Mangere, between the island and the shell banks. Took a shoddy photo through the scope, will try get a decent one with my camera.

Chris

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 6:26 pm
by Christopher
Couldn't get a decent photo, was backlit & overcast, but here's what I managed to get. Pretty stoked though, as this is my first non-barwit in many attempts in NZ! Finally getting back into regular birdwatching after a wee break...

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 7:40 pm
by Davidthomas
Did you see it in flight at all?

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 7:51 pm
by Christopher
Yep I did, initially saw it's white under-wing when it hopped in the air, and then after fetching my camera that’s how I spotted it the second time - the whole flock took off and landed again and I this one landed right in front of me facing away. Had a clear black stripe across its tail, as well as black/white on the wings (though didn’t see the pattern clearly). The colouring was very distinct too as it wandered through the flock of barwits.

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:02 pm
by Davidthomas
Sweet as, the reason I asked is it’s very hard to tell hudwits and blackwits in non breeding plumage if you don’t catch them in flight. Sounds good for a blacktailed godwit to me. A nice grey bird, strong super, and a perfectly straight bill.

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:24 pm
by Christopher
Thanks for the tip David, will have a look again some time next week if I get the chance. Hopefully on a sunnier day!

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:00 am
by Oscar Thomas
Great record Chris. Not many people can attach photos to their sightings of them!

Re: Black-tailed Godwit at Mangere

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:37 pm
by Steve Wood
Sorry for the late post, B T Godwit seen on the 27th July.

Re: Mangere today

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:35 pm
by Christopher
Nice afternoon at Mangere today, tide was a big one so didn't catch the birds wandering round/feeding. Still managed to spot 2 TURNSTONE, 2 WHIMBREL, and 5 NZ dot chicks with their parents. Also around 80 Black-billed gulls, some looked to be collecting nesting materials.

Other than that, all the usual suspects. 1500 or so godwits, probably 4-500 knots, around 1500 sipos still around, 35 Spoonbills and a few wrybill still hanging round. No sign of the Black-tailed Godwit today, though as I said the birds weren't moving round too much.

Also I've changed the topic title to make it easier to track updates for this site. Cheers

Chris

Re: Mangere today

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 10:57 am
by Christopher
Tattlers still showing yesterday afternoon on the spit in front of the hide. One EASTERN CURLEW turned up too, as well as around 20 Turnstones.

Chris