Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

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phil hammond
Posts: 501
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:10 pm

Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby phil hammond » Tue Jul 02, 2019 8:01 pm

There was a Shore Plover at Clifton Beach, south Auckland yesterday. Bands were WO/BG
. I think it's been there for a while
wghabbott
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby wghabbott » Fri Jul 05, 2019 2:27 pm

Is that the beach where the great knot was over summer?
wazzagonewild
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Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:33 pm

Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby wazzagonewild » Fri Jul 05, 2019 3:37 pm

Yes, there was a great knot seen there in March.
Grahame
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Location: Ngatea
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Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby Grahame » Sat Jul 06, 2019 12:57 pm

If this Shore Plover is in the same place as the March Great Knot, then it is the same place as the April and September 2015 Shore Plover. This is known as Turanga Creek Reserve, adjacent to Ayrlies Wetland.

Cheers, Grahame
phil hammond
Posts: 501
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:10 pm

Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby phil hammond » Sat Jul 06, 2019 2:30 pm

Hi Graham and all

I'm sure you are right Graham about that name , The name "Clifton Beach" or just simply Clifton, is perhaps better known to birders that have been doing censuses there over the years.

Anyway for anyone who still doesn't know where to go ----Clifton road is south of Whitford off the Whitford/Maraetai road. The mudflat is off a no exit unsealed road which comes off the end of Clifton road [also the end of Potts road].

There is a carpark at the end of that unsealed road and about 30m back from the carpark is a metal gate through to a culvert which allows you to cross the creek. Note that at the top of big tides that culvert, and indeed the mudflat, is well and truly under water.

There are shell banks there too but they are "out of bounds" and fenced off [with a single tape] for good reason because NZ Dotterels breed there. At the present time the post breeding flock is still there so you may see about 30 NZ Dotts

There are also usually a few Bandies and both species of oystercatcher---so 5 endemic waders in one place!!

There are usually both Red and Black-billed gulls and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits wintering over and probably a Spoonbill or two

You may have to share the place with horse riders that often ride out onto the mudflat ["beach"] but every time I've been there the riders have respected the "no-go" areas

A good time to go is a couple of hours before high tide on a Small or medium tide so that you can observe the birds out on the mud and don't have to encroach the nesting area ---The Dotterels will be sorting out territories and nest sites by now

Take gumboots

cheers
Phil Hammond
Wrybill Birding Tours NZ
"Great Birds REal Birders"
Grahame
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Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 6:48 pm
Location: Ngatea
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Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby Grahame » Sat Jul 06, 2019 2:51 pm

Thank you Phil, that has avoided any confusion.

Grahame
wghabbott
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby wghabbott » Sun Jul 07, 2019 4:46 pm

DSC_4098.jpg
DSC_4098.jpg (250.64 KiB) Viewed 1925 times
Still there today (Sunday)
Bruce Keeley
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:45 am

Re: Shore Plover at Clifton Beach

Postby Bruce Keeley » Mon Jul 08, 2019 4:03 pm

Shore Plover not seen today (Monday) towards high tide. No Bandies either, so I suspect they went round the corner to their favoured spot on the Waikopua Estuary.
20+ NZ Dotts were on the usual dotterel roost area. Only 2 Spoonbill (down from 7 on 10 June).

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