Eastern Curlew and new Spoonbill breeding area - Haldane Estuary

[Phil Rhodes]

Spotted our old friend the Curlew in the middle of the estuary viewable from the Haldane-Curio Bay Rd - it was also recorded back in November during the Spring wader count. We were also advised by a DoC contractor who was checking for Spartina infestation that he had seen spoonbills nesting in the raised mudbank that was covered in long grass. We walked over at low tide and spotted one spoonbill nest surrounded by Southern Black-backed gull nests. We quickly checked the nest which had 2 chicks and one egg and retreated back to the road. The contractor thought there were about 8 to 10 nests but we saw no evidence of this, but we did only have a quick look as we were aware of the adults flying around us. Not sure of the survival chances being quite accessible to predators at low tide.