Piako Flood Plain Today

[Bruce Keeley]

A brief (first) visit to the Piako site early afternoon today on rising tide:
1 spoonbill, 9 whimbrel, 1 Sharp-tail Sp, 1 Golden Plover
And 2 FE Curlew back at Miranda.

[RussCannings]

Popped in briefly here on Sunday just before high tide. Mangroves continue to grow and choke up the previously open mudflats so only a few stilts there.

--The godwits and SIPO though are still coming in, but roosting and foraging out in the damp pasture on the dairy farm. I didn't get close enough to carefully check for flags or newly arrived birds but did notice 2 WHIMBREL in amongst them along with a lone GOLDEN PLOVER that was likely a recent arrival (adult in moult).

20 CATTLE EGRET are still present in the area as wel.

Russ C
Morrinsville, NZ

[RussCannings]

Also checked this spot quickly post high tide on Friday. Missed the main roosting flocks which were departing as I arrived (now using paddocks since the mangroves have taken over the mudflats), however noted that 10 Cattle Egrets including 3 in full breeding plumage.

Russ

[RussCannings]

23 Cattle Egret today, most are in breeding plumage. Also had 6 Whimbrel among the godwit/knot flock that is still using paddocks for a roost (though it's a lottery if they're close to the dyke).

Russ