Wintering MARSH SANDPIPERS - Napier

[sav]

Hi all,

In early January, two Marsh Sandpipers were seen at Southern Marsh, Napier. By the end of January there were three, and these remained through to at least mid-February. I don't think anybody saw them through March or April and the obvious assumption/expectation is that they would have migrated North.

Much to their surprise, Wayne and Margaret Twydle refound them (at the same place) about three weeks ago, and then yesterday 5 (Five!) Marsh Sandpipers were present.

I looked this morning and could only (!!!??) find 4 feeding together but may have seen all 5 - one (maybe 2?) bird was quite mobile.

Wintering Marsh Sand is unusual, and a group of 5 in New Zealand is also quite remarkable - both together........????

cheers

[Michael Szabo]

Lynne Anderson also saw them during the Birds New Zealand winter wader survey there yesterday and took these photos.

You can read about Birds New Zealand's nationwide wader survey scheme here: https://www.birdsnz.org.nz/schemes/nati ... der-count/

[Jan]

Hi Sav,
Is there any chance these 5 might have been juvs when they arrived? Can u tell? It is certainly very special.

[sav]

Hi Sav,
Is there any chance these 5 might have been juvs when they arrived? Can u tell? It is certainly very special.

Hi Jan,

I think there is every chance that they are first year birds. None of them are showing any sign of breeding plumage, and the fact that they have remained here increases the odds. Proper juvenile plumage would have been lost by the time they were first seen - I believe.

cheers

[Jan]

Must have been a good breeding season somewhere, then!

[Ken George]

Anybody seen the sandpipers in the last week? Still around or moved on?

[Hamish Johnston]

I got distant views of two today. Others may have been around but only viewed the southern marsh from the easternmost point.

P1480219.jpeg (77.58 KiB) Viewed 899 times

[Byrd]

Just as an update, I was in Napier and no sign of the Marsh Sandpipers around the different ponds yesterday or today.

I did see a pair of Rooks flying over the South Pond this morning.

[benackerley]

7 present now at the scrapes