Red-Necked Phalarope at Grovetown Lagoon, Blenheim

[Patrick Crowe]

Bill Cash reports this morning seeing a Phalarope at the Sewerage Pond behind Grovetown Lagoon walkway.

https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S122960912

Note that this particular pond is on private property (see comment below regarding access)

[georgie]

Great sighting and see that more images and detailed ID are featured in your later checklist https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S122960917. Are any of you comfortable in sharing landowner’s contact details by private message or on thread? I’m keen to respectfully ask for access for tomorrow. Cheers

[Patrick Crowe]

The landowner has said they are happy for people to jump fence from the main Grovetown lagoon track without the need to contact them. But they have made it clear that it is 100% at people's own risk and they and their business are not responsible.

So feel free to go try see the phalarope but take care and know that the pond it is on used to be a sewerage pond so don’t end up in the water!

[Ian Southey]

Patrick

I think Red-necked because the bill is long and fine and doesn't appear to have any yellow at the base and the back seems patterned. Good find.

Ian

[Peter Frost]

I agree with Ian. That relatively short (cf. Wilson's) fine needle-like bill is diagnostic. Grey phalarope has a thicker bill that looks almost blunt at the tip.

Peter

[FraserGurney]

Phalarope present this morning in the same place.

Thanks to all involved in the quick reporting and access to see this bird.

[Patrick Crowe]

Hi Peter and Ian, thanks for your input. After looking a bit more at ID guides, I’m definitely with you on red-necked phalarope ID.

[Peter Frost]

Hi Pat,

The pirouetting that you describe when the bird is feeding is also fairly diagnostic, as is the habitat (if I remember correctly). At least in South Africa, where I last saw both species, 45-50 years ago, grey phalarope was largely pelagic, seen off Cape Town and Walvis Bay, whereas red-necked phalarope occurred occasionally on coastal lakes ('vleis') and places such as the Strandfontein Sewage Farm, near Cape Town. Neat bird...lucky you.

Peter

[georgie]

Many thanks to landowner and those who facilitated access for birders to see this awesome individual. Hopefully it’s a long staying bird, helped by people viewing carefully. A very entertaining rarity!

[bradley_birdsnz]

Has anyone seen the bird today? Heading there this arvo