Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

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Jim_j
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Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby Jim_j » Mon Nov 12, 2018 10:50 am

While looking for fernbirds the other evening spotted what looked like 2 NZ Dotts in the ponds in the reserve on the northern side where Grays Road intersects with the Pakakariki Hill road.
They were just to far away from me to be sure - but weren't Banded Dotts - but could have been some small arctic wader?
Given they've been seen at Waikanae - a possibility?

cheers
jim
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boneywhitefoot
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby boneywhitefoot » Mon Nov 12, 2018 9:47 pm

they could be the same birds we saw last year.
Jim_j
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby Jim_j » Tue Nov 13, 2018 8:01 am

Thanks - hadn't picked up that they had been seen there before

cheers
Jim
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boneywhitefoot
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby boneywhitefoot » Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:40 am

We had 2 females create a nest out on the Waikanae spit and lay 3 infertile eggs apiece.
We want them to bring back males with them this time
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bsd1
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby bsd1 » Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:15 pm

I was at the same place last week and thought I saw something similar. When I zoomed in to the birds they looked more like juvenile pied stilts to me. There was a harrier making regular fly pasts as well and the adult stilts were doing their best to discourage it. Also viewed from the hide a banded rail sunning itself, it also made itself scarce when the harrier came by. I'll see if I have a photo of the juvenile pied stilts at home.

In the meantime here is the harrier and rail.

Image

Image
Jim_j
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby Jim_j » Tue Nov 13, 2018 2:29 pm

Nice shot of the banded rail - I think that might be a first for this area and maybe the whole of the lower North Island for some time!!
Be worth putting this as a separate post and entering in ebird.

I don't think they were juvenile stilts - but certainly can't rule that out as they were to far away without binos to be sure.

Cheers Jim
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boneywhitefoot
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby boneywhitefoot » Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:35 pm

I think its amazing to see a banded Rail.
well worth reporting.
where did it come from I wonder
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bsd1
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby bsd1 » Tue Nov 20, 2018 8:34 pm

This is what I saw the other day that could (from a distance) look like a dotterel.

Image

and cropped further:

Image
Jim_j
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Re: Possible 2 NZ Dotterels? Pautahanui Inlet

Postby Jim_j » Tue Nov 20, 2018 9:00 pm

Thanks yes I'm thinking they were almost certainly juvenile stilts- given I didn't see them separately from the birds I thought might be the dotts.

Cheers Jim

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