Myself and Adam Colley sported the buff breasted sandpiper at the spit tip this morning feeding with bandies and wrybill in the lake edge vegetation. Attached photo is a back of the camera shot until we get back.
Google maps location: Dropped pin
Near Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury
https://goo.gl/maps/UXwXQ42ADtuWC4oEA
Access is over leased land along the paper road. Suggest people take a 4wd or drive cautiously.
https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S62511700
MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
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- Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Here are the rest of the pics. Bird moves rapidly all the time so very difficult to get a sharp side on shot but here we go Best I could do. Believed to be the same bird Kelly found at the Ashley Mouth. Pretty exciting to find it again! As a a secondary caution to anybody heading out there please stay well clear of the Caspian Tern breeding colony as they currently have chicks and will desert if flushed. There is a very large White Fronted Tern colony with them so not hard to miss! The Buff Breasted Sandpiper and all the other Wrybill &Banded Dotts etc were seen well to the the west of them so no reason to disturb them. there is also a Sharp tailed Sandpiper out there and these birds look pretty similar from a distance so check carefully
Last edited by Adam C on Sun Dec 22, 2019 2:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
“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: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Few more...
“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
- Steve Wood
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Very nice and impressive surroundings.
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Superb find for Canterbury, and excellent photos!
I would very much like to see this bird, but prefer to go there with others who know the site well, so as to minimize disturbance.
If anyone is planning a visit I would be keen to join.
Glenn McKinlay
I would very much like to see this bird, but prefer to go there with others who know the site well, so as to minimize disturbance.
If anyone is planning a visit I would be keen to join.
Glenn McKinlay
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- Location: Christchurch
Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
A band of 7 jumped in the back of Niall Mugan's Landcruiser this evening and raced down Kaitorete Spit to catch the Buff-breasted.
The lads lined up early in the search................
A pic of some very happy campers after finding it.........
The lads lined up early in the search................
A pic of some very happy campers after finding it.........
- Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Ha! Great stuff! It shan't escape a second time!
“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: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Niall Mugan reported that it was still there this afternoon, but feeding on the lake edge.
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
cool to see it is still here.it was some time ago that me and my son has seen it.we had a look out there today and did see it and got some nice photos.i will put some up..
- Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip
Great shots Kelly!
“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