Little wahi
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David Hallett
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:38 pm
- Location: Christchurch
- Contact:
Little wahi
I am visiting Little Waihi Estuary, new to the area, looking for any ideas of where to look, where birds roost at high tide.
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Tim Barnard
Re: Little waihi
Hi David
Not the easiest of estuaries - much depends on the tides ... this weekend they are quite large. You can view the whole estuary from the approach road - helps get your bearing and see where he birds are roosting. Pukehina spit may hold some of the smaller birds ... godwits etc will sit on two sand banks out from the camp site - you can wade out to them safely but it can be waste to chest deep. This weekend they are likely to be covered so most birds head Maketu spit or the sand bank behind the Marae or frustratingly the meadows around both estuaries. The field near the Kaituna mouth are great especially the ones north of the Kaituna river cut...
If you're up for a walk, low tide is good. Walk across from the point of the little strip of land down from the camp site (near the jetty) to the island and keep going!! take care though there are some fine muds and that sinking feeling is not unusual. I've not vanished yet though and its pretty safe. The glossy ibis are in the SE corner ... if you want more directions leave your number on the 'my posts section' and I'll give you some more detail...
All the best
Tim
Not the easiest of estuaries - much depends on the tides ... this weekend they are quite large. You can view the whole estuary from the approach road - helps get your bearing and see where he birds are roosting. Pukehina spit may hold some of the smaller birds ... godwits etc will sit on two sand banks out from the camp site - you can wade out to them safely but it can be waste to chest deep. This weekend they are likely to be covered so most birds head Maketu spit or the sand bank behind the Marae or frustratingly the meadows around both estuaries. The field near the Kaituna mouth are great especially the ones north of the Kaituna river cut...
If you're up for a walk, low tide is good. Walk across from the point of the little strip of land down from the camp site (near the jetty) to the island and keep going!! take care though there are some fine muds and that sinking feeling is not unusual. I've not vanished yet though and its pretty safe. The glossy ibis are in the SE corner ... if you want more directions leave your number on the 'my posts section' and I'll give you some more detail...
All the best
Tim