Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

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Threeps
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:58 am
Location: Kaimata, Taranaki

Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

Postby Threeps » Sat Jan 04, 2020 11:35 am

I spotted a small group of seven wrybill feeding on the Whanganui estuary yesterday afternoon around 1500. They were working their way downstream from the Whanganui Sailing Club into the teeth of a gale! They were hunkered down into the wind as they walked but some of the gusts were so strong they were occasionally knocked sideways. I struggled to hold the camera steady enough to get some decent images so apologies for the quality of the images attached.

I normally spend my time birding in northern Taranaki so didn't realise that these wrybill were unreported recently on eBird or on the NZ Bird Atlas.

Braving the strong gusts on the incoming tide there were also three bar-tailed godwit, a dozen each of red-billed gulls, pied stilts and SIPO, some mallard, and around 150 Kelp gulls. My Atlas checklist: https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S62934670
2020 01 03_1942-wrybill_group.jpg
Group of wrybill feeding on mudflats at Whanganui estuary
2020 01 03_1942-wrybill_group.jpg (274.47 KiB) Viewed 2006 times

2020 01 03_1948-wrybills.jpg
Thre wrybill on Whanganui estuary mudflats
2020 01 03_1948-wrybills.jpg (267.84 KiB) Viewed 2006 times
Steve Purdon

No te whenua mo nga Kotimana ahau.
Ian Southey
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Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

Postby Ian Southey » Sat Jan 04, 2020 10:11 pm

This is peak migration time. Probably just dropped in to wait for the wind to ease.

Ian
Paul Gibson
Posts: 263
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:49 am
Location: Whanganui

Re: Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

Postby Paul Gibson » Sun Jan 05, 2020 7:36 am

You are right Ian. During summer we often see flocks of wrybill drop in, but usually only stay a day or two. There are no resident wrybills on the Whanganui Estuary. There are though, around 15 to 20 resident godwits during summer.
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Threeps
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Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:58 am
Location: Kaimata, Taranaki

Re: Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

Postby Threeps » Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:00 pm

So would these wrybill be likely to be heading north or south?
Steve Purdon

No te whenua mo nga Kotimana ahau.
Ian Southey
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Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

Postby Ian Southey » Sun Jan 05, 2020 3:44 pm

They'll be coming north. They will most probably end up at Mangere or Miranda because that's where most of the wrybill will end up.

Ian
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Threeps
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:58 am
Location: Kaimata, Taranaki

Re: Wrybill, Whanganui Estuary

Postby Threeps » Sun Jan 05, 2020 6:20 pm

Ian Southey wrote:They'll be coming north. They will most probably end up at Mangere or Miranda because that's where most of the wrybill will end up.

Ian

Cheers, Ian - I'll keep a look out for them when they pass me here in north Taranaki!
Steve Purdon

No te whenua mo nga Kotimana ahau.

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