MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

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Davidthomas
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MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Davidthomas » Sun Dec 22, 2019 9:43 am

Myself and Adam Colley sported the buff breasted sandpiper at the spit tip this morning feeding with bandies and wrybill in the lake edge vegetation. Attached photo is a back of the camera shot until we get back.

Google maps location: Dropped pin
Near Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury
https://goo.gl/maps/UXwXQ42ADtuWC4oEA

Access is over leased land along the paper road. Suggest people take a 4wd or drive cautiously.

https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S62511700
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Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Adam C » Sun Dec 22, 2019 12:58 pm

Here are the rest of the pics. Bird moves rapidly all the time so very difficult to get a sharp side on shot but here we go :) Best I could do. Believed to be the same bird Kelly found at the Ashley Mouth. Pretty exciting to find it again! As a a secondary caution to anybody heading out there please stay well clear of the Caspian Tern breeding colony as they currently have chicks and will desert if flushed. There is a very large White Fronted Tern colony with them so not hard to miss! The Buff Breasted Sandpiper and all the other Wrybill &Banded Dotts etc were seen well to the the west of them so no reason to disturb them. there is also a Sharp tailed Sandpiper out there and these birds look pretty similar from a distance so check carefully :)
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Last edited by Adam C on Sun Dec 22, 2019 2:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
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Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Adam C » Sun Dec 22, 2019 12:59 pm

Few more...
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“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
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Steve Wood
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Steve Wood » Sun Dec 22, 2019 2:30 pm

Very nice and impressive surroundings.
gmckinlay
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby gmckinlay » Sun Dec 22, 2019 9:26 pm

Superb find for Canterbury, and excellent photos!
I would very much like to see this bird, but prefer to go there with others who know the site well, so as to minimize disturbance.
If anyone is planning a visit I would be keen to join.
Glenn McKinlay
andrewcrossland
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby andrewcrossland » Sun Dec 22, 2019 11:19 pm

A band of 7 jumped in the back of Niall Mugan's Landcruiser this evening and raced down Kaitorete Spit to catch the Buff-breasted.

The lads lined up early in the search................

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A pic of some very happy campers after finding it.........

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Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Adam C » Sun Dec 22, 2019 11:51 pm

Ha! Great stuff! It shan't escape a second time!
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman
Philip
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Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:39 am

Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Philip » Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:33 pm

Niall Mugan reported that it was still there this afternoon, but feeding on the lake edge.
kelly111
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby kelly111 » Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:15 pm

cool to see it is still here.it was some time ago that me and my son has seen it.we had a look out there today and did see it and got some nice photos.i will put some up..
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Adam C
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Re: MEGA - Buff Breasted Sandpiper Kaitorete Spit Tip

Postby Adam C » Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:23 pm

Great shots Kelly!
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

Samuel Ullman

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