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Little terns

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:58 am
by Richard Ryall
I am helping some international researchers following Little terns' migrations and am reaching out to the BirdingNZ forum to find out if anyone has any up to date sightings of Little terns. The researchers are coming over in mid-March for 3 days only, so the pressure is on to deliver! Any help would be much appreciated
Richard

Re: Little terns

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:38 pm
by Michael Szabo
One has been seen on and off at Wolfes Road, Lake Ellesmere near Christchurch since November. The most recent sighting I know of was 9 Jan. There will no doubt be others. Kaipara Harbour/Big Sand Island usually has a flock in Feb-March. The Manukau Harbour and Miranda are also a good bet at this time of year.

Re: Little terns

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 11:29 pm
by Richard Ryall
Thanks Michael, your advice is much appreciated. It sounds like Big Sand Island is the place to go. I have been there several times so know what a magical place it is. Regards

Re: Little terns

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 6:45 am
by Ian Southey
Richard

What information do you want? Perhaps the easiest places to find Little Terns are the Manukau (10 ish) and Kaipara Harbours (20ish), but especially with the Kaipara, location is determined by luck and the tide. Rangaunu Harbour might also be good but I don't know it and it may be harder to work. Three days doesn't allow for much and you don't get to choose tides.

We mainly get Asian birds but a few from Australia.

Ian

Re: Little terns

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 11:18 am
by Richard Ryall
Thanks Ian.
The Japanese guys I am looking after are doing reseach on the Little terns movements and want to catch them before they head north, presumably to Asia. The same guys have just been in the Brisbane area doing the same research so it is safe to say they are quite serious.
They have booked their flights and we will be in the Kaipara region on 10th and 11th (and perhaps 12th) March. They have the 13th also if need be.
If you or anyone has any sightings around these dates it would be great. I am just looking at tides now. Your reply is appreciated. Thanks

Re: Little terns

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 11:21 am
by Richard Ryall
Ian,
If we had to test our luck in the huge area that is the Manukau Harbour, where would you suggest? I am from Queenstown, and although I have done some birding in the Auckland region, it is a bit daunting in its possibilities
Richard

Re: Little terns

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 11:51 am
by Ian Southey
Richard

PM with an email address and I'll try to organise you with a local contact for the Manukau. You might want some local guidance for the Kaipara, even Big Sand Island is a big place, but we have some ideas of where they might be on particular tides.

Ian

Re: Little terns

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 11:37 pm
by andrewcrossland
Hi Richard,

Do your Japanese colleagues have the right DoC permissions/permits for catching & banding Little Terns in NZ? Hopefully they do yeah?

Re: Little terns

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:38 am
by Michael Szabo
I see that Richard Ryall has stated on Facebook that they will not be catching/banding them:

"No, just visually spotting littles that have already been banded in japan as a part of a study tracking the migration routes. Only want to see if any of the littles in NZ are part of the study group."

Re: Little terns

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:00 am
by gmckinlay
I photographed a banded little tern in Majuro, Marshall Islands, a few years back.
I will have the photos, distant, but may be of interest.