A pretty relaxed day today, with a (very)
late start to the day. We headed out
from the Motel and looked for black-fronted dotterel again, this time getting
nice close scope views of two birds. We
then did a scenic stop to admire the beautiful Hawkes Bay, and found several
pipits very confiding, and then grabbing some lunch from a bakery carried on
south.
Crossing the Takapau Plains we passed
through lots of sheep country, and then made a stop for lunch at a small
reserve. Carrying on we headed through
Palmerston North, and then out to the coast, checking in at our accommodation
in Foxton. With high tide being late
afternoon, we headed on down to the Manawatu Estuary as the tide was coming in
and parked up.
We quickly spotted a couple of good sized
flocks of white-fronted terns and so walked up to investigate them. Sure enough, there in the middle of them was
an immature common tern, looking somewhat different, but not glaringly so. We admired it, and the rest of the flock
which included some streaky and still begging juvenile white-fronteds.
We then carried on down to where the rest
of the waders were starting to accumulate at the spit. We could see the wrybill flock from a
distance and homed in on them. This was
to be our best views of these great little birds so far, with around 20 of them
hunkered down just a few metres away.
And there amongst them was a little gem – a terek sandpiper – that has
been here for a few weeks now. A great
little bird, and even when sitting down roosting it looks busy! We then scanned the rest of the waders, with
a good flock of bar-tailed godwit and red knot – some of these birds were
really starting to colour up and look stunning with their red breeding plumage.
We found three sharp-tailed sandpiper,
and three Pacific golden plover – two of which were also starting to get pretty
gold and speckled black on the belly. We
watched the wader flock for some time, just admiring the sunshine and the
beautiful birds in front of us.
We then headed back to the accommodation,
took a short break and then headed out for another great dinner. Yet again another great day!
Day total – Seen = 46; new for the trip
= 2; total for the trip to date = 117
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| Checking out some black-fronted dotterels |
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| Black-fronted dotterel pattering around on the mud |
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| Pipit standing on limestone |
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| Stunning views across Hawkes Bay |
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| Common tern with the white-fronted terns |
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| Terek sandpiper |
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| Red knot colouring up |
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