BirdingNZ.net

Nor sure what others found on today's census at lake Ellesmere, Canterbury, but along the motukarara highway I saw 1.gull billed tern and 3 white herons.

Huge lack of waders due to high lake level. Most exciting were 3 White Herons, 20 Mute Swan, 1 Wrybill, 1 Godwit, 13 Cattle Egret on our patches, Andrew.

Kenny Rose reports another Gull-billed Tern from his section (Halswell Rivermouth area), taking a hungry interest in a flock of Goldfinches. Will send results through to Jan in next couple of days. Also very low numbers of waders on the northern side of the lake and Kaitorete Spit although Phil Crutchley saw an unexpected NZ Falcon give a flock of Banded Dotterels a scare at Crescent Island.

And I hear you spotted the Little Egret at Lake Forsyth also, Andrew. More exciting stuff to add.

Just got all the wader results for Canterbury winter count. There were 10 White Heron at Lake Ellesmere.

Jan wrote:Just got all the wader results for Canterbury winter count. There were 10 White Heron at Lake Ellesmere.

Slight error there: 7 at lake Ellesmere and 1 at each of Brooklands, A/H Estuary and Lake Forsyth.