Karepiro Bay Okura-Long Bay Marine Reserve

[zarkov]

If you get a chance you should visit this magic place. Walk in from Stillwater, or Haigs Access Rd, or by boat.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recrea ... oundaries/

This morning was typical for the time of year and on/near the beach I saw:

100+ Godwits in two separate flocks.
60+ Oystercatchers
2 Caspian terns
2 Dotterels
2 Whitefaced Herons
40+ Welcome Swallows building nests in and around Dacre Cottage.

At the Okura sandspit there were a further:
50+ Spur Winged Plover
4 Pied Stilts.

All this within 15 km of the CBD.

Sorry for the poor pic x my kayak camera.

Some of the birds at one end of the beach.



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[zarkov]

Some pics from Okura this morning.




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[zarkov]

Photo died for some reason.

[Logan]

Hey Zarkov,
Where abouts exactly are the godwits, are they on the still water side or Long bay?
nice pics btw!

[zarkov]

Refer to the map, they were in front of Dacre cottage..

[zarkov]

Still 50+ godwits there this morning, plus the usual suspects.

I had thought they might just be passing through, but apparently not.


Saw a large [1 metre+] turtle as I was paddling across the estuary which was a surprise.

I've never seen one in NZ waters before.

Thought it was a log till I was right on it, then it crash dived, so I missed getting a pic.

[zarkov]

Situation normal at the Reserve today.

Constant stream of hikers etc, doesn't faze these birds at all, they are so habituated.

You can sit down and watch them from10 metres or so, without changing their behaviour.

[zarkov]

12+ Dotterels at Karepiro Bay this morning, all getting their feet wet because of a mighty king tide [3.7 metres]

Not sure where they've all come from, as I only saw a few there a month ago.


Anyone know on what basis dotterels are endangered?

I see the little buggers wherever I go.

[SomesBirder]

12+ Dotterels at Karepiro Bay this morning, all getting their feet wet because of a mighty king tide [3.7 metres]

Not sure where they've all come from, as I only saw a few there a month ago.


Anyone know on what basis dotterels are endangered?

I see the little buggers wherever I go.

Well, "endangered" does not always equate to "rare". Take Black-Billed Gulls, for instance; they are an endangered species, but they can be seen very easily in the South Island (as far as I know).

[zarkov]

I suppose their habitat is under real threat.

Hard to see how they'll be safe where they are for much longer.