MEGA - multiple Gull-billed Terns at Manawatu Estuary

[ledzep]

No sign of GBT's mid-afternoon Sunday (2 - 4 pm), nor the Glossy Ibis. About 40 Spoonbill and 350+ Canada Geese, a dozen Wrybill and 6 Godwit.

[Alan Tennyson]

One non-breeding plumaged Gull-billed Tern still present on Monday 4 July but it only appeared more than 2 hours after high tide. It was flying up and down the river plunge diving.
cheers
Alan

[philbattley]

Hi all,

Manawatu Gull-billed Terns are still around and readily visible - 1 largely black-capped and 4 pale-headed birds were on the inside of the sandspit, and feeding up the arm behind it, this morning. They were in full view from the Dawick Street viewing platform.

Cheers, Phil

[sav]

The 5 (five) Gull-billed Terns reported by Phil yesterday were still present today around high tide - 1300ish.

It makes me wonder how the fifth bird came to meet up with what are presumably the four originals??

[ledzep]

So what is the total GBT count for NZ?
We know that there are at least:
16 at Mangere
5 at Foxton beach
2 at Miranda
nn at Lake Ellesmere

[Alan Tennyson]

Manawatu would be a likely place for the Waikanae juvenile to have headed.
cheers
Alan

[craigsteed]

Not sure if my last post went up? But all 5 birds are present at the estuary now. Craig

[Jan]

There have been up to 10 Gull-billed terns at Lake Ellesmere, not all seen by me. My max was 6 at once.
8 were seen at once by Steve Wratten and Colin Hill and then another 2 'adults' at another site.

[craigsteed]

Just going through my photos from yesterday and quite like this one. Shows the black cap of the breeding plumage bird becoming somewhat less uniform and more smudgy. The 5 birds were situated between the bollards and the spit on the mudflats.

(67.97 KiB) Viewed 6344 times

The Gull-billed terns occupied my time along with a group of beautifully coloured up Caspian Terns. Watched this one preening itself mid-flight, is this common or just something I've not observed very often?

(24.2 KiB) Viewed 6344 times

[craigsteed]

All 5 birds were present on Monday, feeding during the high tide just as Sav had previously seen, between the houses and the spit, getting a good feed of crabs. As the tide receded they settled between the bollards and the spit - harrassing the odd godwit that went past. I counted 71 Bar Tailed Godwits, 5 Wrybill, 11 Red knots and 2 Pacific Golden Plover amongst others regulars.

(68.73 KiB) Viewed 6277 times