Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Bird sighting information. Use this forum to report bird sightings (especially rare and unusual birds), census and field count results, and trip reports. Messages posted to this forum will also be sent as a plain text email to the BIRDING-NZ newsgroup.
User avatar
Nikki McArthur
Posts: 350
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:49 pm

Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Nikki McArthur » Sat Jun 16, 2018 12:00 pm

Hi all,

I’m at the Nelson WTP at the moment, and have just spotted a male Northern shoveler. Hanging out with a large mixed flock of Aust. shoveler, grey teal etc, near where the red-necked phalarope had been reported & where the flock of pied stilts often roost & forage.

I bumped into Rebecca Bowater while watching this bird, and she managed to get a reasonably good photograph, so will hopefully post a record shot of this bird in the next day or two...

Cheers,
Nikki
Patrick Crowe
Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2018 7:15 pm

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Patrick Crowe » Sat Jun 16, 2018 7:22 pm

Seen well late this afternoon. Average photos but proof that it's there! Thanks Nikki for the heads up. It was exactly where you described

P1010549.JPG
P1010549.JPG (435.17 KiB) Viewed 3358 times

P1010555.JPG
P1010555.JPG (447.38 KiB) Viewed 3358 times
User avatar
Nikki McArthur
Posts: 350
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:49 pm

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Nikki McArthur » Sat Jun 16, 2018 7:36 pm

Awesome photos Pat! Here are Rebecca Bowater's photos of the same bird, taken around midday today:

_MG_403222.jpg
_MG_403222.jpg (937.43 KiB) Viewed 3354 times
_MG_40342.jpg
_MG_40342.jpg (799.68 KiB) Viewed 3354 times
_MG_40312.jpg
_MG_40312.jpg (751.93 KiB) Viewed 3354 times
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby andrewcrossland » Sat Jun 16, 2018 8:58 pm

Poor old Steve W! A fair few miles spent on chasing this species around the country and now a stunning example turns up 30 mins from home!!
I'm hoping one will eventually get to Bromley oxidation ponds as I still need it !!
Clinton9
Posts: 1008
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:22 pm

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Clinton9 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 10:12 pm

This Asian Northern shoveler drake will migrate northward back to Asia soon as this bird is in new breeding plumage and were just fattening up.

Asian Northern shovelers tends to breed 1-2 months later than European Northern shovelers.

Shoveler flies at 100 k/m while Bar-tailed godwits fly at 80 k/m.

Eslipse plumages of Asian Northern shovelers, are on August to November, with autumntime migration happen as soon as flight feathers are fully grown, after a month of growing the flight feathers.

Mallard ducks took 40 days to regrow the flight feathers, with ducks start to fly short distances to exercise when still growing outer primaries were 30 days old and not fully grown.
User avatar
Steve Wood
Posts: 382
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:57 pm

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Steve Wood » Sun Jun 17, 2018 7:25 am

Yes you have to laugh don't you really!!!

This isn't the first time either something has turned up on my patch after a twitch. Just hang around and wait?......
I don't think I could do that Andrew.
Ian Southey
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Ian Southey » Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:55 am

This bird has no trace of non-breeding plumage like the Miranda one does on the breast and sides. Presumably it is still in a northern hemisphere moult cycle but the Miranda one may have shifted to a local cycle ..?

Ian
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby andrewcrossland » Sun Jun 17, 2018 6:26 pm

crazy! but, I didn't actually have long to hang around and wait following Steve's sage advice yesterday........ less than 24 hrs later, not only have I added Northern Shoveler to my NZ list, but in fact 2 separate birds from 2 different locations in one day!! (see my other post)...
Ian Southey
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby Ian Southey » Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:39 am

So... was it seen yesterday? or is it there today? Just to be sure there really are five in the country now and it didn't sneak off on Saturday night.

Ian
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Northern shoveler, Nelson WTP

Postby andrewcrossland » Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:44 am

2 separate birds seen yesterday on different sides of ellesmere. Still conditions, not a lot of duck movt. First bird present morning and afternoon in exact same spot.

Return to “Bird Sightings and Alerts”