Godwits in CHCH and Wanaka

[andrewcrossland]

no new Godwits on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary in CHCH as far as I can tell as yet, but I was surprised to see a little flock of 9 cross the road ahead of me at Hawea Flat, between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea on 6 Sept - the species is occasionally recorded on Lake Wanaka, but bizarre for them to be heading north (rather than south). Lake Hawea is very low at the moment with no shortage of sand/silt/shingle habitat at various points around the shore.

[rowey]

Did find 6 at Ellesmere just out from Davidsons Road on Saturday afternoon. First I have seen there for a while. Wrybill were everywhere, but not many Dotterals at all.

[andrewcrossland]

(66.7 KiB) Viewed 3049 times

Here's a pic of some of the great wader habitat available at present at Lake Hawea

[Jan]

Hey Rowey, Did you put your totals for Saturday on eBird? Last weekend was the World Wader-counting w/e.
I was at Jarvis Rd. on Sunday and counted 70 Wrybill, but very few Dotterel and not much else.

[Jan]

Still no new arrivals at Avon-Heathcote estuary, though it is hard to be sure as the high tides are very low at present.
Maybe they will come in after these southerlies have cleared up. Some recent years have seen them here by 8th Sept.
There were 5 Wrybill scooting around at the Avon this morning.

[andrewcrossland]

210+ Godwits on the Avon-Heathcote estuary this evening, split between roosts at Southshore and Bexley wetland. 10+ reddish birds. The first definite influx.

[Jan]

There were only 150ish at Charlesworth and Bexley on 6th Sept, so likely about 50 might be new. At that date none were going to Southshore it seems.