White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
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White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
Just had a report (with photo) from Sharon Roberts of a male White-eyed Duck (Hardhead) at Blenheim WTP this morning.
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
Any more details on this? Which pond did she see it in and where from?
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
It was in the same pond with the island same side as the car park.
- TheBirderman
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
smalva wrote:It was in the same pond with the island same side as the car park.
Hi smalva, do you have any photos? Can you also describe the duck for me?
Cheers
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
Hi all,
Went to have a look for this today but no luck. Had a very pleasant (though ornithologically not very exciting) walk round the Wairau Lagoons in gorgeous weather. The real reason I'm submitting this though is I'm not sure I was looking from the best spot and thought maybe someone who knows the site better could possibly offer some advice to help anyone else trying for it. I got to the Wairau Lagoon car park at the end of Hardings Road and set off on the walkway which on the map goes along the edge of the pond where I understand the duck was/is. However, for most of the length of the pond, the walkway is below the stop bank (making the pond invisible unless you're 3 meters tall!) with just very restricted views of parts of it at either end, and a fence that you're clearly not welcome to cross between you and said pond. I didn't have a scope (which would have been handy), the light was however perfect, but most of the wildfowl were roosting (especially on the island). I spent quite a while hoping it might just swim by and also looking for better vantage points, to no avail. Can't see that I'll get another chance anytime soon, but good luck to anyone else who tries. Nigel Milius
Went to have a look for this today but no luck. Had a very pleasant (though ornithologically not very exciting) walk round the Wairau Lagoons in gorgeous weather. The real reason I'm submitting this though is I'm not sure I was looking from the best spot and thought maybe someone who knows the site better could possibly offer some advice to help anyone else trying for it. I got to the Wairau Lagoon car park at the end of Hardings Road and set off on the walkway which on the map goes along the edge of the pond where I understand the duck was/is. However, for most of the length of the pond, the walkway is below the stop bank (making the pond invisible unless you're 3 meters tall!) with just very restricted views of parts of it at either end, and a fence that you're clearly not welcome to cross between you and said pond. I didn't have a scope (which would have been handy), the light was however perfect, but most of the wildfowl were roosting (especially on the island). I spent quite a while hoping it might just swim by and also looking for better vantage points, to no avail. Can't see that I'll get another chance anytime soon, but good luck to anyone else who tries. Nigel Milius
- GKincaid
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
Hi Nigel -
Your best viewing spot will be at the far end of the ponds from the carpark where the path goes up over the stopbank before dropping back down (there is a large sign there with a map and description of the WTP). From this elevated spot you can look back over a fair portion of both ponds. A scope is very helpful. I have visited perhaps 3 times since this bird was reported, with no luck. It is not possible to see all areas of these 2 ponds from the path, and there are at least to adjacent ponds, so plenty of areas where this bird could still be.
Glenn Kincaid, Rarangi
Your best viewing spot will be at the far end of the ponds from the carpark where the path goes up over the stopbank before dropping back down (there is a large sign there with a map and description of the WTP). From this elevated spot you can look back over a fair portion of both ponds. A scope is very helpful. I have visited perhaps 3 times since this bird was reported, with no luck. It is not possible to see all areas of these 2 ponds from the path, and there are at least to adjacent ponds, so plenty of areas where this bird could still be.
Glenn Kincaid, Rarangi
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
Thanks Glenn, obviously I was in the right spot so hopefully your post will help anyone else trying for it. All the best, Nigel
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
I have just been reliably informed that the Hardhead is in the first big pond on the left (not right) with 44 Scaup at 1315.
Cheers, Grahame
Cheers, Grahame
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Re: White-eyed Duck at Blenheim
Hi, has the hardhead been seen again since April 29? I'm thinking of making a trip to Blenheim to have a look this week.