Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

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kengeorge
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Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby kengeorge » Wed May 02, 2018 8:19 am

Anybody know if the Black Stilt that has been seen in the Ashley River estuary is still there? Or around elsewhere?
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby Oscar Thomas » Wed May 02, 2018 8:54 am

It was there on the morning of the 26th of April along with the Grey-tailed tattler, a kotuku and 25 Black-fronted terns.
Bev Alexander
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby Bev Alexander » Wed May 02, 2018 5:13 pm

Both birds present mid afternoon today. Also 1 Wrybill roosting with Banded Dotterel on spit
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kengeorge
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby kengeorge » Wed May 02, 2018 11:02 pm

Thanks for info Oscar and Bev, can you be a bit more specific, I've not visited that estuary before, do I come in from the River Road (north side of the river) or the Waikuku Beach side on the south side of the river? Many thanks.
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby Oscar Thomas » Wed May 02, 2018 11:13 pm

Go to the end of Rotten Row on the south side to the carpark. From there you can walk out to the estuary and all the birds I mentioned are usually just feeding not too far downstream.
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kengeorge
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby kengeorge » Sat May 05, 2018 7:30 pm

Thanks Oscar, got it! Exactly where you said it would be, much appreciated. There was a hybrid there too. Suprised by the number of starlings who seem to be heading down the wader evolutionary path.
Happy birding.
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Oscar Thomas
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby Oscar Thomas » Sat May 05, 2018 10:09 pm

Is this the hybrid you saw?
hybridstilt.jpg
hybridstilt.jpg (292.47 KiB) Viewed 3082 times

Plus one of the Kaki
kakione.jpg
kakione.jpg (193.92 KiB) Viewed 3082 times
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kengeorge
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby kengeorge » Sun May 06, 2018 8:23 am

Yep, that's the one. Great shots Oscar. It was good to finally get the kaki as a tick after unsuccessfully looking for it a few times down in the central South Island a few years ago. Next on the list is rock wren, hope to see that later in the year.
andrewcrossland
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Re: Black Stilt Ashley River Estuary

Postby andrewcrossland » Thu May 17, 2018 7:57 pm

The Black Stilt was at the usual place on the Ashley Estuary today. Also present was the Grey-tailed Tattler (in breeding plumage), 1 Wrybill, 52 Banded Dotterel, 30 Pied Stilt, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 SIPO, 4 hybrid oystercatcher, 19 Variable Oystercatcher, 72 B/F Tern and 124 Spotted Shag.

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