Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

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andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby andrewcrossland » Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:39 pm

Matt Rose and I visited the Yarrs area and Wolfes Rd bay this afternoon after the wader count. Missed rhe Sanderling but got the sharp-tailed sandpiper as well as
41 bar-tailed godwit
1 Hudsonian godwit
And 1 marsh sandpiper.
Elsewhere (on the wader count) we got 500 stilts at kaituna lagoon but few birds elsewhere. Phil crutchley and kenny rose had a nice collection of arctic waders at crescent island and kaitorete spit tip incl the Pacific golden plover flock.
Jan
Posts: 1871
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:43 am
Location: Christchurch

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby Jan » Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:10 pm

The native purple musk flower was putting on a really good show too.
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby andrewcrossland » Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:21 pm

Yeah, absolutely stunning along with the white samolus snd yellow bachelor's button flowers. Acres and acres of native wild flower meadows.
mikullashbee
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 11:48 am

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby mikullashbee » Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:10 pm

Hudwit still showing in aforementioned location. Thanks for sharing your sightings Andrew and Jan. Here is a very distant record shot showing the dark underwing and tail. The bird is also notably smaller than the surrounding BT Godwits.
Cheers
Mike Ashbee
hudwit.jpg
hudwit.jpg (523.39 KiB) Viewed 2389 times
ColinODonnel
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2017 3:51 pm

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby ColinODonnel » Tue Dec 05, 2017 3:57 pm

There were 2 Hudsonian godwits at the Lake on Saturday - between Selwyn Huts and LII River - with 61 bar-tailed godwits. One flew off with the godwits, but one remained with a bunch of stilts. Plenty of waders along this section.
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby andrewcrossland » Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:21 pm

Here's some pics of the Marsh Sandpiper and one of the Hudsonian Godwits at Yarrs/Wolfe's Rd Bay. Can someone remind me if the Marshie has already been picked up this seasoN?

Marsh Sand1.jpg
Marsh Sand1.jpg (643.72 KiB) Viewed 2285 times


Hudsonian Godwit2.jpg
Hudsonian Godwit2.jpg (521.05 KiB) Viewed 2285 times


Hudsonian Godwit.jpg
Hudsonian Godwit.jpg (270.92 KiB) Viewed 2285 times
mikullashbee
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 11:48 am

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby mikullashbee » Sat Dec 09, 2017 12:23 am

Hi Andrew, as far as i know this is the first time a Marsh Sandpiper has been reported this season at the lake. The one that was present at Kaituna lagoon last year did move over to the embankment Rd. area for a few days last fall. The last time i saw the bird was April 7th with a group of Pied Stilts.
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury

Postby andrewcrossland » Sat Dec 09, 2017 8:52 pm

Ok thanks. Matt Rose and I will do a UBR.
Cheers

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