There was a bumper crop of birds this afternoon in a couple of hours spent at Lake Ellesmere.
Yarr's in particular had a lot of action and huge numbers of birds. Highlights were:
2 black-tailed godwits (first located one associating with stilts and then saw two flying together)
1/2 hudsonian godwits (associating with bar-tailed godwits, then the black-tailed godwits. There may have been a second one and the photo and additional sighting below suggest this may be the case)
42 bar-tailed godwits
1 whimbrel (associating with bar-tailed godwits)
1 marsh sandpiper
1 little tern
3 mute swans
6 banded dotterels
3 wrybill
I then thought Embankment Rd was worth checking out too and it also delivered:
1 hudsonian godwit (not sure if this was the same individual or not, seen ~45 minutes after last seen at Yarr's)
82 bar-tailed godwits
2 curlew sandpipers
5 small unidentified sandpipers (possibly all sharpies, maybe the curlew sandpipers mixed in too, but they were too distant and skittish for firm ID)
1 marsh sandpiper (likely the same one as seen at Yarr's)
31+ red-necked stints
1 little stint
1 pacific golden plover
12 banded dotterel
~40 wrybill
Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
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- Adam C
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
Man what a massive week for Canterbury Birders to get fizzed up about! Keep them coming!
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
Samuel Ullman
Samuel Ullman
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
I checked out Kaitorete Spit tip yesterday FYI -
38 Turnstone
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Red Knot
6 RN Stint
62 Wrybill
38 Turnstone
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
10 Red Knot
6 RN Stint
62 Wrybill
- philbattley
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
Don't forget that we're after counts of juveniles bar-tails too!
- Adam C
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
3 Black Tailed and at least 1 Hudsonian Godwit present this afternoon at Wolfes road. There is a 5th bird which is either a Black tailed or a Hudwit but couldn't get concrete underwing evidence! Birds seen wing lifting on the ground and then in flight clearly showing their diagnostic features. Black underwings on the hudwit and white, black framed wings on the BTs. Badger tails stand out a mile. The Black tails lifted their wings perfectly while I was videoing but the Hudwit would wait till I was between shots! Great to see them! Both lifers for me.
No sign of the Whimbrel at Wolfes or Golden Plover at Embankment however 2x Marsh Sandpipers and a large flock of Bar Tailed Godwits 45+ there. Little Stint showing well there too.
No sign of the Whimbrel at Wolfes or Golden Plover at Embankment however 2x Marsh Sandpipers and a large flock of Bar Tailed Godwits 45+ there. Little Stint showing well there too.
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
Samuel Ullman
Samuel Ullman
- Adam C
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
Ok just to bore you all further heres a still off the video of the Black Tails showing the underwing and a shot of all 3 on the ground + a shot of the Hudsonian defying all my attempts to get a shot of some diagnostic features before he lifted off. Although Ive just been told the short white Supercilium is diagnostic so....Mr Hudwit...I got ya!
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
Samuel Ullman
Samuel Ullman
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
Embankment Rd this morning.
Little Stint 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Curlew Sand 2
Red knot 10
Godwit flock roosting on second large pool
Hudsonian 1
Many wrybill, rn stints
Wolfes road.
Little tern 1
Marsh sand 1
No other migrant waders at all.
A great day with perfect conditions. Observers Ian Williams and Brian Darlow
Little Stint 1
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Curlew Sand 2
Red knot 10
Godwit flock roosting on second large pool
Hudsonian 1
Many wrybill, rn stints
Wolfes road.
Little tern 1
Marsh sand 1
No other migrant waders at all.
A great day with perfect conditions. Observers Ian Williams and Brian Darlow
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
2 Black-tailed Godwits, the Little Tern and 60+ Bar-tailed Godwits at Yarrs Lagoon last night.
Also, a sighting of the the legendary Canterbury Black Panther!!
Also, a sighting of the the legendary Canterbury Black Panther!!
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Re: Black-tailed and Hudsonian godwits, Lake Ellesmere
All 3 black-tailed godwits, 1 hudsonian godwit, and the little tern were all present this afternoon.