MIRANDA from 2020

[Michael Szabo]

Thanks Grahame, hopefully someone with a camera can gets some shots of them this weekend for comparison.

[Jos1]

There was an eBird report of "2 Broad-billed Sandpipers" at Miranda on Tuesday but no photos:
"Visible for 30 minutes on edge of shellbank/mud".

Link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S63120398?f ... RUYilO-EKY

I am not the author of this ebird report, but also saw two Broad-billed Sandpipers together on 7 January, mostly roosting on the edge of the shellbank, occasionally moving aong a bit. Stayed together the whole time.

[Davidthomas]

Hi all,

Visited Miranda yesterday morning with Harry Boorman, Scott Brooks and Grahame Brind, also ran into Brent and his tour group. Good birds as per usual, with three Far Eastern Curlew at the main Godwit hide. As well as the Lesser Sand Plover, a Broadbilled sandpiper, A Hudsonian Godwit and 5 Sharptailed sand amongst the wrybill turnstones and banded Dotterel. As well as 33-34 PGP.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S64243156

lesser sand was again present today well after high tide but no sign of the broadbill.

[RussCannings]

Had a kid in tow so just scanned the stilt pond from the road while she napped around midday. Mainly focused on the plover/wrybill flock at the north end so probably missed some things in the big godwit/knot flock. Highlight was finally catching up with the Lesser Sand Plover and it was also nice to count 76 golden plover, my highest tally for 2020 at one time. A couple sharpies were also mixed in with the sleeping wrybill.

Russ

[Michael Szabo]

Joe Dillon reports seeing a Black-fronted Tern at Miranda yesterday:
https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S64410339

[Liam Ballard]

Lesser Sand Plover, Hudsonian Godwit and Broad-billed Band Piper seen at Miranda today. We had a nice high of 4.0m tide - all the birds were bushed up onto the stilt ponds. The high cloud cut out a lot of the heat haze which helped as well.
Cheers,

[Grahame]

Terek Sandpiper
Paul G spotted a Terek sandpiper as it took off from in front of the main hide just before high tide. It flew over us closely followed by two Godwits . All three birds landed in the stilt pond. Three hours looking through all the birds in the stilt pond, helped by Amanda, failed to find it. Reminiscent of searching for the Manukau bird, even after knowing the exact spot that was in. It may be that the recent bird has been here all the time, or it could be the same bird as the Manukau one.
Cheers, Grahame

[Grahame]

The L Sand Plover was still present yesterday afternoon, as was a Broad-billed, although Paul was onto it, but the powered hang glider flushed everything before I got onto it. 3 Sharpies still present plus 14 Turnstone, 1 F E Curlew, then almost bang on the high tide, a flock of 100+ Godwits started their migration flight. Considering how late (1800) the high tide was, there was easily the largest number of visitors I have seen there with the car park being over full.
Cheers, Grahame

[Grahame]

Viewing on the stilt ponds was extremely difficult this afternoon, but from the Godwit hide, three F E Curlews showed well, and Broad-billed Sandpiper showing very well and fairly close in front of the hide. Two Ringed P Golden Plover were present in front of the hide, one of them being JoJo.
Cheers, Grahame

[Bruce Keeley]

Yesterday, calm conditions and an early evening tide made viewing very easy from the main hide. The Golden Plover continued feeding well towards high tide. 3 FE Curlew and the Broadbilled S/piper right in front of hide.
Most of the SIPOs were massed in front of the Stilt Pond hide. The Lesser Sandplover was amongst a large roosting flock of Banded Dotts at north end of the ponds. It remained active while the B Dotts rested, and reacted to the occasional aggressive Dott by leaping vertically with wings spread.
10 or so Turnstone and a Sharp-tail amongst Wrybill on the ponds.