Last 90 minutes before high tide this morning. 12+ Cattle Egrets out in the fields, looking wonderful in their breeding finery, 34 R Spoonbill, 3 E Curlew, 2 Hudsonian Godwit, 2 Sharp-tailed sandpipers plus all the usual supporting cast. No P Goldies today. Ibis probably present, but unseen in the long grass with the Egrets.
Cheers, Grahame
Piako Flood Plain Today
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- RussCannings
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
Popped in on Friday evening pre- high tide. 21 golden plover, 1 (apparent juvenile) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Hudsonian Godwit, and the more common species. No sign of egrets or the ibis but was entertained by some battling cock pheasants out in a nearby paddock.
Russ
Russ
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
I was there Friday the 15th Nov from about 7am to 9.45 (high tide) - 1 Hudsonian Godwit showed very well (eventually!) plus 3 Far Eastern Curlew as a bonus.
- RussCannings
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
Checked the spot pre high tide this avo (between squalls) and was rewarded with 15 Whimbrel in amongst around 600 godwit, 100 knot, 1800 stilt, 100 sipo, 80 Blackbilled Gull, 45 wrybill and 1 bandie. No sign of egrets or ibis.
Russ
Russ
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
The 15 Asiatic Whimbrel still there between 4 & 5pm today
- Michael Szabo
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
Any Hudsonian Whimbrels among them?
Last edited by Michael Szabo on Sat Mar 07, 2020 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
I was there on February 28, and found 14 Whimbrels, and one Hudsonian, or possibly a Black-tailed Godwit - bill was very straight. Photo below is from my phone, through scope.
http://www.upics.co.nz
http://www.upics.co.nz
- Oscar Thomas
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
Hey Paul - Looks good for Black-tailed Godwit based on bill straightness alone.
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
Hello Oscar, Unfortunately I did not see the colour underwing, the only sure way to identify the species. But what a great place to visit, sure worth the time and travel.
- RussCannings
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Re: Piako Flood Plain Today
Michael Szabo wrote:Any Hudsonians among them?
While the birds were on the far side of the flats, I was able to look through them carefully, and also watched them in flight several times when harriers put them up. No sign of any non-barwits. Also a bit of a disappointment to see not golden plovers or calidrids about but I suppose they're all over at Miranda.
Russ