Mount Main Beach Oystercatchers

General birdwatching discussion, help with bird identification, and all other things relating to wild birds and birding in NZ that don't fit in one of the other forums.
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FlyingKiwiGirl
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Mount Main Beach Oystercatchers

Postby FlyingKiwiGirl » Fri Dec 08, 2017 7:26 am

Two Variable Oystercatchers living the high life at Mt Maunganui and fitting right on in with their human neighbours. They were quite happy checking out various towels and blankets, stabbing holes in rugs and picking up towels in their bills. I suspect they could hear sand hoppers underneath.
I think these two OC's must be 'Harry & Sophie', they nested on the Main Beach at the Mount but both their chicks were abandoned not long after hatching (one was checked and found to have abnormalities). There are two eggs in an enclosed area nearby but it doesn't look like they are interested in incubating them. There was also a random white egg in the roped off area as well.
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FlyingKiwiGirl
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Re: Mount Main Beach Oystercatchers

Postby FlyingKiwiGirl » Fri Dec 08, 2017 7:27 am

And a couple more...
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Look out for the Wetland & Waders, & Seabirds sets too.
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FlyingKiwiGirl
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Re: Mount Main Beach Oystercatchers

Postby FlyingKiwiGirl » Fri Dec 08, 2017 7:28 am

And the eggs...
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NZ Forest Birds on Flickr
Look out for the Wetland & Waders, & Seabirds sets too.
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boneywhitefoot
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Re: Mount Main Beach Oystercatchers

Postby boneywhitefoot » Fri Dec 08, 2017 5:23 pm

what a lovely bird
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David Riddell
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Re: Mount Main Beach Oystercatchers

Postby David Riddell » Sat Dec 09, 2017 9:25 am

There was a pair of VOCs roosting regularly among the caravans in the oceanside camping ground last summer. Would that be Harry and Sophie? Great to see these birds on the Mount beach. I saw a wrybill near Tay St in February 2016 too, though I don't think it stayed long.

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