Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

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PaulintheBay
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Location: Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
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Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby PaulintheBay » Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:54 pm

I'm not in NZ but there's a Whimbrel been spotted on Mount Maunganui "recently ". An email 2 days ago and confirming video on Facebook groups NZ garden birds group. (!). Paul. Rhein Valley
Parula
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Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:18 am

Re: Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby Parula » Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:25 am

Whimbrel seen again (or another) on beach adjacent to the board walk leading up to Mount Maunganui, BOP today at 09.00 Photo taken with iphone
0DAAC350-D107-46B5-B1A9-924A6D40951E.jpeg
Whimbrel. Mount Mauganui
0DAAC350-D107-46B5-B1A9-924A6D40951E.jpeg (296.74 KiB) Viewed 1903 times
Grahame
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Re: Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby Grahame » Wed Sep 25, 2019 6:43 pm

Paul G has cast doubts about this bird. He feels it is showing many features of an American Whimbrel

"Never seen an Asian Whimbrel looking anything like that!! Looks like an American?
Dark rump & back, and warmer coloured underwings would clinch it if somebody can get a view?
The bird has that classic American white front and face and thick-based bill, shorter and slightly less curved. Longer legs too."

He asks if there might be other photos of the bird showing the features he mentions.

Cheers, Grahame
Parula
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Re: Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby Parula » Wed Sep 25, 2019 7:47 pm

These are the only other photos that show any difference. The outer borders of tail appear white but whether this implies a white rump and upper tail, I don’t know. I hope these photos help.
EA60BF34-F650-4DCA-A6AA-1D5E31E191EA.jpeg
EA60BF34-F650-4DCA-A6AA-1D5E31E191EA.jpeg (339.42 KiB) Viewed 1796 times
9FF93BDD-70BB-4F6B-9963-06770F253ED3.jpeg
9FF93BDD-70BB-4F6B-9963-06770F253ED3.jpeg (338.09 KiB) Viewed 1796 times
Parula
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Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:18 am

Re: Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby Parula » Thu Sep 26, 2019 11:58 am

Whimbrel still present and showing well today at 08.00-09.00. Unfortunately bird did not reveal critical features necessary to exclude hudsonicus. One photo of uppertail showed no white. I will post when I have had chance to edit. I didn’t obtain flight view of bird as I had no desire to flush it. Bird quite wary. Runs off when 15-20m away
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philbattley
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Re: Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby philbattley » Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:16 pm

Unless you get a clear view (and preferably photo) of the back in flight it's hard to exclude the standard Asian form. You don't really see any of the pale in birds on the ground.
Phil
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philbattley
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Re: Whimbrel on Mount Maunganui

Postby philbattley » Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:33 pm

Here are some photos from Karin Sievwright, who found it on 7 September. The short scapulars look like it's a juvenile.
Phil
Whimbrel2 20190908-WA0013 KSievwright crop.jpg
Whimbrel2 20190908-WA0013 KSievwright crop.jpg (123.62 KiB) Viewed 1629 times
Whimbrel1-20190908-WA0015 KSievwright crop.jpg
Whimbrel1-20190908-WA0015 KSievwright crop.jpg (182.38 KiB) Viewed 1629 times

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