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01 Sep International wader website ["albertlaysan" ] 1 Sep Re: New Zealand Seabird Images [] 01 Sep Re: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Shore Plover - Scotts Ferry (Wanganui) [John Dowding ] 01 Sep BirdingNZ.net Alert: Shore Plover - Scotts Ferry (Wanganui) [] 1 Sep Bells Island Shellbank ["David Melville" ] 31 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Re: Waikato kaka [] 31 Aug Foxton: bird book for sale ["Michael Turner" ] 30 Aug Paradise Shelducklings ["David Melville" ] 30 Aug Re: possible Gull Billed Tern (and galahs) [David Riddell & Annette Taylor ] 30 Aug Re: Cattle egrets [David Riddell & Annette Taylor ] 30 Aug Cattle egrets [Bev & Bryan Woolley ] 29 Aug Re: BirdingNZ.net Alert: First cuckoos [Jan Walker ] 28 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: First cuckoos [] 29 Aug Lake Ellesmere Sat. Aug 28 ["Wratten, Stephen" ] 28 Aug Bittern foot-prints ["albertlaysan" ] 29 Aug RE: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Blackbirds singing ["Colin & Robyn Ogle" ] 29 Aug Re: Alert: Blackbirds singing [Shane McPherson ] 29 Aug Re: Alert: Blackbirds singing [Jan Walker ] 29 Aug Re: Alert: Blackbirds singing [Suzi Phillips ] 29 Aug Alert: Blackbirds singing ["Ralph Powlesland" ] 28 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Blackbirds singing [] 28 Aug Pair of Rifleman Mt Lowry [Duncan Watson ] 26 Aug Re: BirdingNZ.net Alert: City waders [Jan Walker ] 25 Aug sally [Rosemary Tully ] 24 Aug Re: Cattle egrets [David Riddell & Annette Taylor ] 23 Aug Re: Cattle egrets ["David" ] 23 Aug Bay Of Islands ["David" ] 23 Aug salvins [Rosemary Tully ] 22 Aug Re: Cattle egrets [Phil Hammond ] 22 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Dabchick Swallowed by a Shag [] 22 Aug Re: Cattle egrets ["David" ] 22 Aug Bittern booming- Lake Ellesmere region ["albertlaysan" ] 22 Aug Cattle egrets [Bev & Bryan Woolley ] 22 Aug Gull Billed Tern ["David" ] 21 Aug galahs [Phil Hammond ] 21 Aug Banded Caspian Tern at Waikanae [] 21 Aug Birding Groups ["Mary" ] 21 Aug wrybills reports - coastal Canterbury ["albertlaysan" ] 20 Aug Re: Newest Member [Lorna Sandeman ] 21 Aug possible Gull Billed Tern ["David" ] 20 Aug Re: Albino Oystercatcher [Ian Southey ] 19 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Banded Dotterel nesting Wanganui Airport [] 19 Aug Video themed around bittern conservation ["albertlaysan" ] 19 Aug How do I start 'doing attachments'? ["Mary" ] 19 Aug Newest Member ["Mary" ] 19 Aug Re: Albino Oystercatcher [John Dowding ] 19 Aug Re: Albino Oystercatcher ["Lloyd Esler" ] 19 Aug Re: Albino Oystercatcher [John Dowding ] 19 Aug Re: Albino Oystercatcher [Rosemary Tully ] 19 Aug Albino Oystercatcher [J & K Vaughan ] 18 Aug Conservation comments blog ["albertlaysan" ] 18 Aug Tauranga seabirds 10 Aug [Chris Gaskin ] 18 Aug FW: Boobooks - All of them [Sav Saville ] 18 Aug RE: Galahs at Mangatawhiri [J & K Vaughan ] 18 Aug Galahs at Mangatawhiri ["Shorebird Centre" ] 17 Aug RE: Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters ["Brent Stephenson" ] 17 Aug SIPO? migration ["David Melville" ] 17 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Carolina wood ducks, Hamilton [] 17 Aug RE: Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters ["Kevin Matthews" ] 17 Aug little egret [Rosemary Tully ] 16 Aug Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters ["albertlaysan" ] 16 Aug intermediate egret [Rosemary Tully ] 16 Aug Australian Bittern at Diggers Valley Road, Herekino, Northland ["Gary Little" ] 16 Aug Re: wrybill blog [Jan Walker ] 15 Aug wrybill blog ["albertlaysan" ] 15 Aug Birdsaplenty festival ["Jacqui Hughes" ] 15 Aug wrybills at Avon-Heathcote Estuary ["albertlaysan" ] 13 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Possible Nankeen Kestrel - Taumaranui [] 14 Aug luecistic white faced heron ["Kevin Matthews" ] 13 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: SIPO migration [] 13 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Cape Barren Goose, Mowhanau Beach, Wanganui [] 11 Aug BirdingNZ.net Alert: Inner city biodiversity [] 11 Aug Surveyor needed [] 10 Aug Kermadecs - seabirds & cetaceans [Chris Gaskin ] 10 Aug wind turbines and bird strike [todd nachowitz ] 10 Aug impressive garden "assemblage" ["Crossland, Andrew" ] Subject: International wader website From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:11:38 -0000 For all those wader enthusiasts out there this site is recommended. http://worldwaders.posterous.com/ On a local scale the wrybill blog is wribbling along and has been updated. http://wrybill.blogspot.com/ Kind regards Peter Subject: Re: New Zealand Seabird Images From: Grahamekins AT aol.com Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:18:49 EDT Hi all, I would like to thank Sav, Peter and Chris for help with racial separation and also ID for some of the seabird images taken last March. It has taken rather a long time to sort out the shots. For those who may be interested I have placed them on my Flickr site. I very much enjoyed my time in NZ, your pelagics in particular are incredible. My next job is to sort out the mainland images. Good birding, Graham Ekins Boreham, Essex, UK http://www.flickr.com/photos/graham_ekins_world_wildlife/sets/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Shore Plover - Scotts Ferry (Wanganui) From: John Dowding <jdowding AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:16:46 +1200 Shore plover RG-OB captive-bred at Peacock Springs, Christchurch. Hatched 11 November 2008, transferred to Mana Island 23 October 2009. John Dowding From: Reply-To: Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:14:07 -0400 To: BIRDING-NZ Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] BirdingNZ.net Alert: Shore Plover - Scotts Ferry (Wanganui) Hello BIRDING-NZ, sav has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: This afternoon I found a stonking male Shore Plover at Scotts Ferry which is the Wanganui side of the Rangitiki River mouth. It was in perfect plumage with a jet black face. It carried bands Red/Green;Orange/Blue. I dont have access to a bunch of my records just now but I'm sure that is a band combo I've seen before (maybe at the Manawatu??). The bird was associating with about 25 Banded Dotterel just below, and to the South of, the raised car park area at the end of the road. Access to the area from the SH1 /SH3 junction in Bulls - just keep going for 21 kms through Scotts Ferry until you cant go any further! It was still present when I left at about 16.15. -------------------------------------------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Shore Plover - Scotts Ferry (Wanganui) From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:14:07 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, sav has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: This afternoon I found a stonking male Shore Plover at Scotts Ferry which is the Wanganui side of the Rangitiki River mouth. It was in perfect plumage with a jet black face. It carried bands Red/Green;Orange/Blue. I dont have access to a bunch of my records just now but I'm sure that is a band combo I've seen before (maybe at the Manawatu??). The bird was associating with about 25 Banded Dotterel just below, and to the South of, the raised car park area at the end of the road. Access to the area from the SH1 /SH3 junction in Bulls - just keep going for 21 kms through Scotts Ferry until you cant go any further! It was still present when I left at about 16.15. -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=725&p=3094#p3094 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Bells Island Shellbank From: "David Melville" <david.melville AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 17:12:55 +1200 A pleasant afternoon on the Bells Island shellbank, Waimea Inlet: VOC 129 SIPO 235 Bar-tailed Godwit 219 (including one with an alpha green flag from Queensland) Turnstone 14 Wrybill 11 Banded Dotterel 4 Red Knot 1 David [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Re: Waikato kaka From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:57:13 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Neil Fitzgerald has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: Report passed on to me of 3 kaka in Leamington (Cambridge) yesterday, on flowering gum on the corner of Spencer and Keats streets. Haven't heard about the Matangi trio for a while so perhaps this is them. Neil. -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=529&p=3091#p3091 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Foxton: bird book for sale From: "Michael Turner" <mgturner AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:23:15 +1200 If anyone is after a copy of Robert Wilson's "Bird Islands of NZ" (W&T 1959), the second hand trader in Foxton (the big one near the windmill; I think its Foxton Trading Post) has a copy in good condition with dust jacket for $40. Ps Still 2 Glossy Ibis present at the estuary opposite the boat ramp (30/8), as reported previously by Sav Saville. They were in the company of 54 Spurwings which to me is a lot in one place (imagine the noise when they are airborn); and 11 Spoonbill were in the neighbourhood. Regards Michael Turner [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Paradise Shelducklings From: "David Melville" <david.melville AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:26:45 +1200 Julia and I were in central Christchurch yesterday (29 August) and were surprised to see a family of 5 Paradise ducklings on the Avon River - HANZAB indicates laying in early August with incubation at 30-35 days - the ducklings were probably 5 days old so presumably laid in late July. David [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: possible Gull Billed Tern (and galahs) From: David Riddell & Annette Taylor <Number8 AT ihug.co.nz> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:44:11 +1200 Had a job to do on Port Waikato Rd today so made a trip up to Port Waikato to have a look. Checked out the ocean beach, Maraetai Bay, the wharf and did a slow drive up the estuary, but no luck. A few Caspian terns went by, the first one (while still too far away to judge size or bill colour, and us primed to look for robust, short-tailed, stout-billed terns) caused a brief moment of excitement, but that was as good as it got. Did however manage to find the galahs at Mangatawhiri immediately afterwards! Stopped first just before the intersection, then had a good look round the Quinphos depot. Tried just west of the bridge (west of the intersection) looking out on to the stubble, then a couple of hundred metres west again, and finally found about six, in a tight group perhaps 2-300m from the road - barely visible to the naked eye (we had binoculars, no telescope). At that distance they looked very grey, with pale heads, and only occasionally when one would turn towards us or flutter its wings did they show much pink. Then a harrier put them up and they flew into a kahikatea and they were no longer visible. David and Annette On 21/08/2010 4:59 p.m., David wrote: > > Just an alert that I have received a report of a possible Gull Billed > Tern at Port Waikato. > It was seen last Monday on the beach, and then again on Friday about > 4kms up the river. > The report is from a nonbirder but it is reported as having a black > bill running directly into a black cap. > It would be worth checking if you are in the area. > Phil Hammond also told me that he saw the Galahs this morning, > although I did not see them as I passed through on my to Miranda. He > saw them flying between the stubble and the Summit Quinfos building > near the corner of the Miranda Road, where it comes off SH 2. > David Lawrie > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Cattle egrets From: David Riddell & Annette Taylor <Number8 AT ihug.co.nz> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:02:43 +1200 Annette and I were passing through Rangiriri today, so swung by the river to have a look for cattle egrets. Went down Hall Rd and along Churchill East Rd and saw nothing, so following a tip from Phil Hammond we went over the bridge and along Horahora Rd. At the end of the road (where it turns into a dirt farm track) on the left we saw 7 egrets when a passing harrier put them up. They headed further away towards a mob of cattle a couple of paddocks back from the road. Could well have been more birds there - the ones we saw disappeared when they settled again. David On 30/08/2010 9:40 a.m., Bev & Bryan Woolley wrote: > > Thanks for replies to my cattle egret query. > > Would like to know which roads Phil used for access to where he saw them > please. > > Bev > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Cattle egrets From: Bev & Bryan Woolley <bawoolley AT clear.net.nz> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:40:35 +1200 Thanks for replies to my cattle egret query. Would like to know which roads Phil used for access to where he saw them please. Bev [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: BirdingNZ.net Alert: First cuckoos From: Jan Walker <shesagreen AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:54:10 +1200 Sheila and Bev thought they heard one at Boggy Creek, Lake Ellesmere yesterday too. It didn't do the last slur note though. Could have been a thrush perhaps. Tom and I didn't hear it. Cheers, jan On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 3:41 PM, wrote: > > > Hello BIRDING-NZ, > > Ian Southey has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. > > -------------------------------------------- > Here's the text of the post: > > We heard our first Shining Cuckoo for the season at Red Hill, Papakura > today calling twice about lunchtime and again about 2.30. This must be a > good two weeks earlier than last year. > > Ian > -------------------------------------------- > > You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: > http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=720&p=3076#p3076 > > Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to > BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. > > -- > BirdingNZ.net > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: First cuckoos From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:41:00 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Ian Southey has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: We heard our first Shining Cuckoo for the season at Red Hill, Papakura today calling twice about lunchtime and again about 2.30. This must be a good two weeks earlier than last year. Ian -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=720&p=3076#p3076 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Lake Ellesmere Sat. Aug 28 From: "Wratten, Stephen" <Steve.Wratten AT lincoln.ac.nz> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:07:31 +1200 Colin Hill and I went from Embankment Road to Jarvis Road and found: 1 curlew sandpiper 1 red-necked stint 30 wrybill 56 bar-tailed -godwit Minimum of 30 banded dotterel Curlew S and stint were almost certainly overwintering birds as they have been seen on and off all thro winter-Jan Walker saw these 2 spp. on Friday Aug 27 Cheers Steve ext 8221 "The contents of this e-mail (including any attachments) may be confidential and/or subject to copyright. Any unauthorised use, distribution, or copying of the contents is expressly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please advise the sender by return e-mail or telephone and then delete this e-mail together with all attachments from your system." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bittern foot-prints From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:41:01 -0000 Photographed some deep inside a raupo bed last week (see blog). Note size of prints- about 20cm from end hind claw to tip of front digit ( the voice recorder is 10cm long). the size of the hind claw is notable in foot print ( pukekos have proportionately a much shorter hind claw)- and the print of a white-faced heron is only half the size. the bittern was spotted and also heard booming- Lake Ellesmere region. If you have mud around wetland- keep an eye out for bittern footprints- could be a useful detection tool in some contexts. For listening for booming bitterns the best time is an hour around dusk and two hours before dawn. Also bittern boom more during fuller moon phases. The male gives a series of three booms audible for up to two kilometres in still conditions. Keen on any records of booming birds. Booming activity will increase over the next two months- peaking in November- at the other end of the spectrum to the blackbirds melodic call !!!! Kind regards Peter Langlands http://bittern-tracker.blogspot.com/ Subject: RE: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Blackbirds singing From: "Colin & Robyn Ogle" <robcol.ogle AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:10:08 +1200 Hello Phil & Birding NZ I’ve kept a record of 1st dates I hear blackbird doping a full call in Wanganui for about 10 years. Almost every year, my first records come from trees in the main street of Wanganui. I have hunch that they start earlier where there’s strong lights on through the night. (One time I got my first record for the year at the hospital, which is also well lit up all night.) I still haven’t heard a full song this spring from my own property, but that’s on the edge of town where street lights are scattered. Colin From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of noreply AT birdingnz.net Sent: Saturday, 28 August 2010 9:37 p.m. To: BIRDING-NZ Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] BirdingNZ.net Alert: Blackbirds singing Hello BIRDING-NZ, philbattley has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: Every year I plan to make a list of roughly when to expect each songbird to start singing, and every year I fail to. Never mind. Last Sunday a Blackbird did a quiet phrase of song at home in Palmerston North, on Friday one was singing well at Massey, and today one was in decent song back at home. Hardly an earth-shattering revelation, but it's more usual for me to realise after a week or two that something started singing a week or two ago... Phil -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9 &t=719&p=3072#p3072 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Alert: Blackbirds singing From: Shane McPherson <shane.mcpherson AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:05:06 +1200 Starting in August 2009, and again from the beginning of August this year I have been keeping a daily Backyard Bird Count and posting it on eBird, although details on the first breeding songs of each species are not noticed this is to ensure I get the proper reference to the first cuckoos heard for the season. The Song Thrush up on the Kaipara seem to sing starting in July, and only a few very subtle Blackbird calls at the moment (our farmland backyard has much fewer Blackbirds than the suburban areas). Shane On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 10:23 AM, Jan Walker wrote: > > > Blackbirds have been singing in Christchurch since early July. Do eastern > rain-shadow areas have a much milder spring climate than Palmy or Auckland? > Perhaps weather stats bear this out, I don't know where to look for that. > Chaffinches have been singing for a while, now too and I heard the first > Greenfinch and some Yellowhammers the other day. > > Lake Ellesmere yesterday, 28/08/10 > But no booming Bittern heard at Hart's creek yesterday, though a pair of > Fantails have built a beatiful nest in the willows over the mud next to the > boardwalk. Crested Grebe were around Timberyard Point [4] and about 11 Mute > swan in this part of the Lake too. Many Great and Pied Cormorants nesting > on > Willow Island out from Timberyard Point. Couldn't find any Cattle Egrets in > this area. > 2 Cattle Egret on Ridge Rd and a nesting SIPO on Hudson's Rd near the > junction with Jarvis Rd, seen on 27th Aug. Other side of the lake. > Also on 27th Sheila and I walked from Jarvis to Embankment Rd and counted > 62 > Wrybill [no bands spotted] 1 Red-necked Stint [no BP, but very patterned > back] 1 Curlew Sandpiper, most likely overwintered. 11 Caspian Terns. > Dotterels displaying and nesting. > > Meeting of Local OSNZ branch tomorrow night has a talk about Orange-fronted > parakeet conservation. Contact me if you want to find out more. > > Happy bIrding, > Jan > > On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Suzi Phillips > > wrote: > > > A Blackbird was also started singing on Auckland's North Shore last week > > and one heard at the Cascades in the Waitaks, plus one was singing in > > Maungatautari's southern enclosure on Wednesday. > > > > Has anyone also noticed male Blackbirds from an area, gathering in small > > groups of 3-4 early in the morning? I've seen it on several occasions > > around here. We have one very distinctive male Blackbird with a small > > territory near us, (distinctive due to white ruff splashed around nape > and > > back), who was with three other males about 400m from his own territory. > > They were not being aggressive as in territory dispute. The white-ruff > > male has a mate, so I was surprised to see him so far from his territory. > > > > Then a few days later, noticed another group of male blackbirds in an > > early morning meeting in another area of the neighbourhood. Again not > > aggressive, more like a show-off lek gathering perhaps ? Or a men's group > > meeting !? 8-) > > > > Suzi > > > > On 29/08/2010, at 9:10 AM, Ralph Powlesland wrote: > > > > > Hi Phil & All > > > > > > I too noted that the blackbirds started singing last week. I'm based at > > > Manaroa (rural habitats), Marlborough Sounds, much of the time, and > have > > > been recording a variety of information pertaining to the birdlife > there, > > > including dates various species are heard singing for the first time > each > > > spring or whenever they start singing again. I had begun to think the > > > Manaroa blackbirds were never going to start singing as those in > > Wellington > > > have been doing so for a few weeks now. The blackbird song at Manaroa > at > > > present is confined to dawn and dusk, and not much volume yet. > > > > > > Ralph Powlesland > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Alert: Blackbirds singing From: Jan Walker <shesagreen AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:23:37 +1200 Blackbirds have been singing in Christchurch since early July. Do eastern rain-shadow areas have a much milder spring climate than Palmy or Auckland? Perhaps weather stats bear this out, I don't know where to look for that. Chaffinches have been singing for a while, now too and I heard the first Greenfinch and some Yellowhammers the other day. Lake Ellesmere yesterday, 28/08/10 But no booming Bittern heard at Hart's creek yesterday, though a pair of Fantails have built a beatiful nest in the willows over the mud next to the boardwalk. Crested Grebe were around Timberyard Point [4] and about 11 Mute swan in this part of the Lake too. Many Great and Pied Cormorants nesting on Willow Island out from Timberyard Point. Couldn't find any Cattle Egrets in this area. 2 Cattle Egret on Ridge Rd and a nesting SIPO on Hudson's Rd near the junction with Jarvis Rd, seen on 27th Aug. Other side of the lake. Also on 27th Sheila and I walked from Jarvis to Embankment Rd and counted 62 Wrybill [no bands spotted] 1 Red-necked Stint [no BP, but very patterned back] 1 Curlew Sandpiper, most likely overwintered. 11 Caspian Terns. Dotterels displaying and nesting. Meeting of Local OSNZ branch tomorrow night has a talk about Orange-fronted parakeet conservation. Contact me if you want to find out more. Happy bIrding, Jan On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Suzi Phillips wrote: > A Blackbird was also started singing on Auckland's North Shore last week > and one heard at the Cascades in the Waitaks, plus one was singing in > Maungatautari's southern enclosure on Wednesday. > > Has anyone also noticed male Blackbirds from an area, gathering in small > groups of 3-4 early in the morning? I've seen it on several occasions > around here. We have one very distinctive male Blackbird with a small > territory near us, (distinctive due to white ruff splashed around nape and > back), who was with three other males about 400m from his own territory. > They were not being aggressive as in territory dispute. The white-ruff > male has a mate, so I was surprised to see him so far from his territory. > > Then a few days later, noticed another group of male blackbirds in an > early morning meeting in another area of the neighbourhood. Again not > aggressive, more like a show-off lek gathering perhaps ? Or a men's group > meeting !? 8-) > > Suzi > > On 29/08/2010, at 9:10 AM, Ralph Powlesland wrote: > > > Hi Phil & All > > > > I too noted that the blackbirds started singing last week. I'm based at > > Manaroa (rural habitats), Marlborough Sounds, much of the time, and have > > been recording a variety of information pertaining to the birdlife there, > > including dates various species are heard singing for the first time each > > spring or whenever they start singing again. I had begun to think the > > Manaroa blackbirds were never going to start singing as those in > Wellington > > have been doing so for a few weeks now. The blackbird song at Manaroa at > > present is confined to dawn and dusk, and not much volume yet. > > > > Ralph Powlesland > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Alert: Blackbirds singing From: Suzi Phillips <suzi AT dialogue.co.nz> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:34:25 +1200 A Blackbird was also started singing on Auckland's North Shore last week and one heard at the Cascades in the Waitaks, plus one was singing in Maungatautari's southern enclosure on Wednesday. Has anyone also noticed male Blackbirds from an area, gathering in small groups of 3-4 early in the morning? I've seen it on several occasions around here. We have one very distinctive male Blackbird with a small territory near us, (distinctive due to white ruff splashed around nape and back), who was with three other males about 400m from his own territory. They were not being aggressive as in territory dispute. The white-ruff male has a mate, so I was surprised to see him so far from his territory. Then a few days later, noticed another group of male blackbirds in an early morning meeting in another area of the neighbourhood. Again not aggressive, more like a show-off lek gathering perhaps ? Or a men's group meeting !? 8-) Suzi On 29/08/2010, at 9:10 AM, Ralph Powlesland wrote: > Hi Phil & All > > I too noted that the blackbirds started singing last week. I'm based at > Manaroa (rural habitats), Marlborough Sounds, much of the time, and have > been recording a variety of information pertaining to the birdlife there, > including dates various species are heard singing for the first time each > spring or whenever they start singing again. I had begun to think the > Manaroa blackbirds were never going to start singing as those in Wellington > have been doing so for a few weeks now. The blackbird song at Manaroa at > present is confined to dawn and dusk, and not much volume yet. > > Ralph Powlesland > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Alert: Blackbirds singing From: "Ralph Powlesland" <powles1 AT attglobal.net> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:10:16 +1200 Hi Phil & All I too noted that the blackbirds started singing last week. I'm based at Manaroa (rural habitats), Marlborough Sounds, much of the time, and have been recording a variety of information pertaining to the birdlife there, including dates various species are heard singing for the first time each spring or whenever they start singing again. I had begun to think the Manaroa blackbirds were never going to start singing as those in Wellington have been doing so for a few weeks now. The blackbird song at Manaroa at present is confined to dawn and dusk, and not much volume yet. Ralph Powlesland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Blackbirds singing From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:36:40 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, philbattley has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: Every year I plan to make a list of roughly when to expect each songbird to start singing, and every year I fail to. Never mind. Last Sunday a Blackbird did a quiet phrase of song at home in Palmerston North, on Friday one was singing well at Massey, and today one was in decent song back at home. Hardly an earth-shattering revelation, but it's more usual for me to realise after a week or two that something started singing a week or two ago... Phil -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=719&p=3072#p3072 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Pair of Rifleman Mt Lowry From: Duncan Watson <watson_duncan AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:27:54 +1200 Walking along the main ridge track today from Wainuiomata hill to Mt Lowry above Days Bay, came across a pair of Rifleman near Mt Lowry. Exact co-ordinates 41° 15.851'S 174° 55.394'E . One bird flew across the track near me. I followed it into the bush and got a good view. It was joined by another up in the trees and they quickly disappeared. Neither bird made any sound. First time I've seen any Riflemen in the Wellington region. Subject: Re: BirdingNZ.net Alert: City waders From: Jan Walker <shesagreen AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:13:52 +1200 Hi All, I have been going past the triangle of hard core on Blenheim rd a few times lately and now today there are a pair of SW Plovers with a nest there again. The nest is in the corner nearest the most vehicle traffic next to a larger rock/river boulder. They don't mind cars and such, but the sitting bird got up when had I had a short walk towards the nest. The site has to be seen to be believed. I'll try to get a pic soon. Jan On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 11:55 AM, Jan Walker wrote: > Hi Chris and all, > > I don't think the birds think too much about the outcome for their chicks, > the urge to nest and produce them may well outway anything else. > Last spring/summer a pair had a nest and produced chicks on a triangle of > hardcore [roughly fenced off] alongside Blenheim Rd in Christchurch. At this > point the road is dual-carriageway and is SH1. The other 2 sides of the > triangle were also roads, one with buildings and one not. > When the chicks hatched, it would have been a long walk to any suitable > feeding areas, Hagley Park being the nearest, several 100ms away. The whole > family were last seen by Bev Alexander, late one afternoon, in a shop > doorway, after the shop had shut no doubt. Planning their best route to the > park? > > Happy birding, > Jan > On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 11:36 AM, Chris Bindon wrote: > >> >> >> Hi Ian, >> >> I know the Holy Cross Primary School in Henderson, Waitakere City, had a >> pair of Masked Lapwing nesting last year on the roof of one of their >> classroom prefabs. The teachers and students found this a great >> opportunity >> to study nature in action and being so close to them of real benefit to >> the >> children which they used to extend into some classroom educational >> activities with some research of the species and observation of the birds >> comings and goings, some art work, stories etc. >> >> I know that eggs could be seen from a distance during the parent's >> movements >> on and off the nest but presuming things went according to plan and chicks >> were produced, I'm not aware how this pair dealt with flightless chicks >> needing to walk and forage while being marooned on the roof. It wasn't a >> particularly high roof and they could I guess out of desperation drop down >> a >> way without too much damage in a way that ducklings of some duck species >> can >> do also catching wind in their dry open down. >> >> Regards, >> >> Chris >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto: >> BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com ] On >> Behalf Of noreply AT birdingnz.net >> Sent: Saturday, 29 May 2010 9:50 a.m. >> To: BIRDING-NZ >> Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] BirdingNZ.net Alert: City waders >> >> Hello BIRDING-NZ, >> >> Ian Southey has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. >> >> -------------------------------------------- >> Here's the text of the post: >> >> Over the last few weeks about 2000 Wrybills went missing from the ponds at >> Mangere and it seemed like a good idea to try to find them. You never know >> if they have supped on one of the poisons they sometimes spread round the >> sewage treatment plant or have been sucked into a jet engine at the >> airport >> (both have happened in the past) although it's more likely that they just >> found a better place to sit. >> >> So I got dragged off my patch and went hunting round the Onehunga Basin >> with Tony Habraken last Thursday and it added a whole new dimension to my >> birding, vertical, as these birds are roosting on the roofs of factories >> and warehouses. Most of them seem to be well known and regular sites. The >> first stop was the end of Portage Rd where we climbed on to the railway >> overbridge and found 850 Wrybill with a Banded Dotterel and a Curlew >> Sandpiper. There were some SIPO visible along the roof line and from the >> top of Mt Richmond we managed to get a view and counted 130 on the other >> side. Closer to us on another roof were 10 White-faced Herons and a pair >> of >> Spur-winged Plovers building a nest. I don't know if they carried the >> nesting material up or managed to find it in the guttering but it was the >> only debris on the roof. And how would they get their chicks down? >> >> Far in the distance on a roof to the left of the recall building is a >> Banded Dotterel roost and we could just make out 130 minute dots. It is >> off >> Church St so we pulled up in a carpark there and saw them quite well for a >> few minutes but they flew off east before we could count them again. >> Presumably they were Tamaki Estuary as a Manukau high tide is three hours >> later than than that on the east coast it was probably time to feed there. >> We looked back for the Wrybill and saw that roof was clear so they must >> have gone too that way too. >> >> Watching the roofsas we drove back to Mangere I saw another Spur-winged >> Plover nest and a few more Herons and as we lefy the bridge there were >> several thousand SIPO on another roof but we didn't stop for them. We went >> snooping around closer to the airport and saw 4 oystercatchers on the >> ridgeline of another roof from the intersection of Montgomerie Rd and >> George Bolt Memorial Drive but didn't manage to get a better view although >> there were quite a few Red-billed Gulls on buildings off Verissimo Drive. >> Goodness knows what we didn't manage to find. >> >> All quite strange for a country birder but a lot of fun. It's an >> impressive >> adaptation to a changing landscape too. Are there other places where this >> is happening? Also do those Spur-winged Plovers ever raise chicks? And if >> anybody has had any extra Wrybill turn up lately please post the count - >> there's probably another thousand unaccounted for at present. >> >> Ian >> -------------------------------------------- >> >> You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: >> http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9 >> >> &t=578&p=2467#p2467 >> >> Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to >> BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. >> >> -- >> BirdingNZ.net >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> >> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: sally From: Rosemary Tully <rosemarytully AT clear.net.nz> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:55:19 +1200 Hi Just to let you know that the Salvin's Mollymawk flew off today, heading north east. Weight this morning 3.7kg Let her go from Otarawairere Road lookout. cheers Rosemary 'Never frown, even when you are sad, Because you never know who is Falling in love with your smile. ' "Every one smiles in the same language" Rosemary Tully 513A Taneatua Road RD1 Whakatane 3191 New Zealand Phone 0064 7 3129475 Website http://www.nzbirds.com/more/rescue.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Cattle egrets From: David Riddell & Annette Taylor <Number8 AT ihug.co.nz> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:00:51 +1200 I'm fairly sure Stella Rowe saw 114 at Rangiriri on 27 August 2009, also Iain Johnson saw about 80 on 23 August 2009. I'll be going by on Monday so might make a detour along Churchill East Rd. David On 23/08/2010 9:37 a.m., Phil Hammond wrote: > > hi all > > there were between 33 and 35 cattle egrets at otau [south of waiuku] > yesterday afternoon > > bev---- i haven't been down to the churchhill road area yet this > winter but last year i had to go into a farm [had permission] to find > them ---ie couldn't see them from any public roads ---there were over > 100 from memory--the farm was on the other side of the river from > churchill road > > i'm not at home so dont have notes with me and cant remember the name > of the road where the farm is but will email you > > phil h > --- On Sun, 22/8/10, David > wrote: > > From: David > > Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Cattle egrets > To: "BIRDING-NZ GROUP" >, "Bev & Bryan Woolley" > > > Received: Sunday, 22 August, 2010, 7:48 PM > > > > Bev, > I have not seen any this year yet, and none visible on the south side > of the river today. Will check out the Aka Aka site in the next couple > of weeks. > David > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bev & Bryan Woolley > To: BIRDING-NZ GROUP > Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 7:12 PM > Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Cattle egrets > > Today we searched all the areas where cattle egrets have wintered over in > the Waikato in the past, but none were found for the second year running. > Some years back totals were in the hundreds. Are numbers down in other > parts > of the country? Any up your way David? > > Bev > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: Re: Cattle egrets From: "David" <lawrie AT ps.gen.nz> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:31:50 +1200 I have just been reminded by one of my local contacts that he provided a report on the Aka Aka flock earlier in the year. I summarise his report below, which Phil Hammond confirmed by his sighting yesterday. the first three birds arriving on 17th May. The rest arrived about a fortnight later, and there's a bigger flock than I've seen before. There were 57 in flight on my last visit when they were flushed by a horse rider, and quite a few more remained on the ground and sitting on fence posts, with a good number still walking in-and-out of view down in the deep gutters. I'd guess at least 80 in total, the highest number for me at that site. They're a little further northwest than usual, being visible from Aka Aka main road, near the round milking shed, and not visible from down the usual Swiss Bell Farm area on Crouch Road. Clearly I do not know what is happening in my own patch!!! David Lawrie ----- Original Message ----- From: Bev & Bryan Woolley To: BIRDING-NZ GROUP Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 7:12 PM Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Cattle egrets Today we searched all the areas where cattle egrets have wintered over in the Waikato in the past, but none were found for the second year running. Some years back totals were in the hundreds. Are numbers down in other parts of the country? Any up your way David? Bev [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bay Of Islands From: "David" <lawrie AT ps.gen.nz> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:04:57 +1200 Last week I had a few days holiday at Paihia in the BoI. The birding highlights were At least 4 Weka calling in the middle of the day heard from the Flagstaff at Russell. A flock of about 50 Barbery Doves at Okiato, near Russell 2 Reef Herons on the rocky points at each end of the beach at Paihia. David Lawrie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: salvins From: Rosemary Tully <rosemarytully AT clear.net.nz> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:55:47 +1200 Hi, I still have Sally the Salvins Mollymawk, has anyone done any studies on these birds? When up overlooking the sea at Otarawairere Road, she dips her head and her bill nearly touches the ground.(she does this quite a bit). She preened well today and feathers seem to be getting more waterproof. I heard from Mandy Hague that there were a couple of cattle egrets on Westbank Road 1km from junction with Thornton Road. On the riverside of the road. cheers Rosemary 'Never frown, even when you are sad, Because you never know who is Falling in love with your smile. ' "Every one smiles in the same language" Rosemary Tully 513A Taneatua Road RD1 Whakatane 3191 New Zealand Phone 0064 7 3129475 Website http://www.nzbirds.com/more/rescue.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Cattle egrets From: Phil Hammond <philxhammond AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:37:13 -0700 (PDT) hi all   there were between 33 and 35 cattle egrets at otau [south of waiuku] yesterday afternoon   bev---- i haven't been down to the churchhill road area yet this winter but last year i had to go into a farm [had permission] to find them ---ie couldn't see them from any public roads ---there were over 100 from memory--the farm was on the other side of the river from churchill road   i'm not at home so dont have notes with me and cant remember the name of the road where the farm is but will email you   phil h  --- On Sun, 22/8/10, David wrote: From: David Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Cattle egrets To: "BIRDING-NZ GROUP" , "Bev & Bryan Woolley" Received: Sunday, 22 August, 2010, 7:48 PM   Bev, I have not seen any this year yet, and none visible on the south side of the river today. Will check out the Aka Aka site in the next couple of weeks. David ----- Original Message ----- From: Bev & Bryan Woolley To: BIRDING-NZ GROUP Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 7:12 PM Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Cattle egrets Today we searched all the areas where cattle egrets have wintered over in the Waikato in the past, but none were found for the second year running. Some years back totals were in the hundreds. Are numbers down in other parts of the country? Any up your way David? Bev [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Dabchick Swallowed by a Shag From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:43:38 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, simon.fordham has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: I have received this report of from John Luff, in Pukekaha. Pukekaha, in a straight line, is approximately 11km north of Raetihi close to the Manganui o te Ao River. This observation occurred on the 12th May 2009. It was while I was driving along a farm access track at about 0830 hrs in the morning.The Black Shag was observed from a distance of about 15 metres on a papa pad beside the farm dam fringed with Manuka. Initially it was the sight of the shag with its throat hugely distended and visibly red having what appeared to be difficulty swallowing a bird of some kind as I could only discern the feet and tail out of the Shag's mouth that caught my attention. As I got out of my vehicle to have a closer look the Shag regurgitated the item onto the papa pad and flew off a short distance. I had a look at the bird and saw it was a entire adult New Zealand Dabchick which was dead. The Shag was attempting to swallow the Dabchick head first. I continue on my way up to the fence I was working on. On my return at the end of the day at around 1720 hrs there was no sign of the dead Dabchick, so I assume the Shag came back to finish off its interrupted meal. -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=717&p=3058#p3058 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Re: Cattle egrets From: "David" <lawrie AT ps.gen.nz> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:48:10 +1200 Bev, I have not seen any this year yet, and none visible on the south side of the river today. Will check out the Aka Aka site in the next couple of weeks. David ----- Original Message ----- From: Bev & Bryan Woolley To: BIRDING-NZ GROUP Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 7:12 PM Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Cattle egrets Today we searched all the areas where cattle egrets have wintered over in the Waikato in the past, but none were found for the second year running. Some years back totals were in the hundreds. Are numbers down in other parts of the country? Any up your way David? Bev [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bittern booming- Lake Ellesmere region From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:20:58 -0000 Heard first bittern booming for season booming today- also sighted bird. Rgds Peter Langlands Subject: Cattle egrets From: Bev & Bryan Woolley <bawoolley AT clear.net.nz> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:12:56 +1200 Today we searched all the areas where cattle egrets have wintered over in the Waikato in the past, but none were found for the second year running. Some years back totals were in the hundreds. Are numbers down in other parts of the country? Any up your way David? Bev [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gull Billed Tern From: "David" <lawrie AT ps.gen.nz> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:35:32 +1200 I went out this morning, not long back, but did not see anything unusual. We walked the full length of the beach and checked the river. On the beach we found the remains of the Giant Petrel, about a km along the beach, which had been found by my informant 20 days ago. We also found 2 Fairy Prions, one about a week old and one that had just come in on today's tide fresh. Also 4 NZ Dotterel, and 6 Banded Dotterel David Lawrie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: galahs From: Phil Hammond <philxhammond AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:23:19 -0700 (PDT) hi all   for anyone looking for the mangatawhiri galahs here are a couple of suggestions;   1 in the corn stubble ---as janie described they visit the corn stubble on the right hand side [when travelling east] just before the mangatawhiri/miranda turn off---BUT you would be lucky to see them if you just look out of the car window when driving past --it's a big area and when i saw them there i had had to get on a high point and scan and then found them at a long distance [janie said she had to put some time in to find them too]   2 i saw them twice [45 minutes apart] in a ditch behind and slightly to the west  of the summit quinfoss building just past the mangatawhiri turn off----there is something in that ditch that interests them and although it is steep sided they go right down into the ditch and again are easily missed from the road---i got great views of ten of them there as at one stage 7 of them were perched for a couple of minutes on fence posts just behind the ditch. on both occasions when they left the ditch they flew low over SH2 back to the corn stubble allowing me to get the count of 10   hope thats helpfull phil h [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Banded Caspian Tern at Waikanae From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:56:49 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Gareth Rapley has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: On Sunday 15 August I saw this Caspian Tern at the Waikanae Estuary. It looks like yellow/green on the right leg with a metal band on the left leg. Does anyone know when and where it was banded. At first, it was with another bird with a darker head (an older bird?). Sorry for the heavy cropping... Gareth -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=716&p=3055#p3055 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Birding Groups From: "Mary" <mryjnjyc AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:52:38 -0000 Are there any 'Bird Watchers' Groups around the Queenstown, South Island, area? Many thanks Mary Subject: wrybills reports - coastal Canterbury From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:12:17 -0000 Does any one have any recent counts ( over the last ten days) from Ashley river mouth or Lake Ellesmere , or any other coastal location in Canterbury ? A flock of 14 wrybills is at the Avon-Heathcote estuary at the moment. Large flocks should be arriving over the next week at the Greenpark sands/ Kaitorete spit tip ( depending upon lake level) and the Ashley river mouth . Please keep an eye out for any colour banded birds and report to DOC banding office- Mala Nesaratnam ; Wrybill blog has been updated. http://wrybill.blogspot.com Cheers Peter Langlands Peter Langlands Outdoor/ environmental writing and photography B.Sc (Zoology) Diploma of Science (Aquatic Ecology) H: 64 3 338 5373 M: 0274 501 916 E: langlands AT xtra.co.nz P.O.Box 2819 Christchurch Mail Centre New Zealand Subject: Re: Newest Member From: Lorna Sandeman <piesmag AT yahoo.co.uk> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:23:13 -0700 Hello Mary I look forward to your future postings of what you've been seeing. === Posted through Grouply Create your own group! www.grouply.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: possible Gull Billed Tern From: "David" <lawrie AT ps.gen.nz> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:59:16 +1200 Just an alert that I have received a report of a possible Gull Billed Tern at Port Waikato. It was seen last Monday on the beach, and then again on Friday about 4kms up the river. The report is from a nonbirder but it is reported as having a black bill running directly into a black cap. It would be worth checking if you are in the area. Phil Hammond also told me that he saw the Galahs this morning, although I did not see them as I passed through on my to Miranda. He saw them flying between the stubble and the Summit Quinfos building near the corner of the Miranda Road, where it comes off SH 2. David Lawrie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Albino Oystercatcher From: Ian Southey <iansouthey AT yahoo.co.nz> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 02:05:54 -0700 (PDT) There is a good summary of variant wader plumages with pictures in this issue of Miranda News  http://www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz/MNT%20News%20Nov%202008.pdf which interestingly enough was provoked by another white Varable Oystercatcher. There are several genetic pathways that can produce white or other variations. The white VOC I have seen appear to have eyes similar to those of other oystercatchers and are not in any way pale so I'd go for leucistic. Although I must have seen vastly more SIPO I haven't yet seen a fully white one. White feathering, especially on the head and neck are fairly common but the only total transformations I have seen two or three fawn ones and a grey one. Seems like a whole different set of variations there. Ian > >From: John Dowding >To: Birding New Zealand >Sent: Thu, 19 August, 2010 6:17:52 PM >Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Albino Oystercatcher > >  >All the cases I mentioned had pure white plumage, not pale fawn. Their bills >and feet were normal (i.e. all the carotenoid pigments present), but no >black or brown, so the melanin entirely missing. I didn¹t see the eyes on >some of them. Some/all may not have been true albinos; if not I suspect they >were possibly better described as leucistic than isabelline. > >From: Lloyd Esler >Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:49:58 +1200 >To: Birding New Zealand >Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Albino Oystercatcher > >Hi all, I wonder if we are using 'albino' when we mean 'isabelline'? >Isabella is a fawn fabric that gives its name to this colour morph where the >dark colours are washed out. Albino means no coloration and pink eyes. >I've seen various isabelline birds including SIPOs but I've never seen an >albino. Lloyd Esler > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Banded Dotterel nesting Wanganui Airport From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:58:07 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Peter Frost has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: Following a report from Graeme Goldsmith, Operations Manager at Wanganui Airport, to Paul Gibson about Banded Dotterel nesting at Wanganui Airport, Paul and I went out and photographed the bird. It was incubating 3 eggs, probably reasonably well set, given the tightness with which the bird sat and its behaviour ('broken wing' display) when disturbed. The bird was nesting about 100 m directly in front of the airport terminal, and only 20 m from the edge of the tarmac strip connecting the aircraft parking area and the runway. At least one pair also nested here last year. On that occasion, the birds nested on the edge of the runway, in the narrow strip between the grass and the tarmac. To prevent aircraft running over the nest site, the airport staff placed an orange cone next to the nest (see picture below). Not only did the birds accept the cone, they moved the eggs to the more sheltered side. The cone had been placed on southern side of the nest, but with the northerly winds prevailing over the past week or so, the bird moved their eggs to a more sheltered position southwest of the cone. Does anyone else have observations of dotterels moving their eggs? Peter -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=713&p=3036#p3036 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Video themed around bittern conservation From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:40:38 -0000 The following video was produced by my brother Martin Langlands as an entry in the Canterbury Biodiveristy film competition to bring about awareness of this nationally endangered bird. Enjoy- Kind regards Peter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYjrKFcKJKk Subject: How do I start 'doing attachments'? From: "Mary" <mryjnjyc AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:59 -0000 I noticed there isn't a 'Photo Section'. How do I do 'photo attachments'? Sorry, I'm new to all of this - so need guidance. What if I would like a bird identified, what do I do? Any other info would be most appreciated. And if I wanted to post a photo, I just do it as an attachment?, right? Sincere thanks Mary Subject: Newest Member From: "Mary" <mryjnjyc AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:28:40 -0000 Hi, my name is Mary and I live in the Queenstown area, South Island, New Zealand. I am an avid 'bird watcher' and love taking photos of all the different birds, whether around the Queenstown area or in other parts of South Island. I get so much pleasure. I'm looking forward to learning more about 'our feathered friends' with your group, and making new friends. Thank you for letting me be a member of this group. Mary Subject: Re: Albino Oystercatcher From: John Dowding <jdowding AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:17:52 +1200 All the cases I mentioned had pure white plumage, not pale fawn. Their bills and feet were normal (i.e. all the carotenoid pigments present), but no black or brown, so the melanin entirely missing. I didn¹t see the eyes on some of them. Some/all may not have been true albinos; if not I suspect they were possibly better described as leucistic than isabelline. From: Lloyd Esler Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:49:58 +1200 To: Birding New Zealand Subject: Re: [BIRDING-NZ] Albino Oystercatcher Hi all, I wonder if we are using 'albino' when we mean 'isabelline'? Isabella is a fawn fabric that gives its name to this colour morph where the dark colours are washed out. Albino means no coloration and pink eyes. I've seen various isabelline birds including SIPOs but I've never seen an albino. Lloyd Esler [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Albino Oystercatcher From: "Lloyd Esler" <esler AT southnet.co.nz> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:49:58 +1200 Hi all, I wonder if we are using 'albino' when we mean 'isabelline'? Isabella is a fawn fabric that gives its name to this colour morph where the dark colours are washed out. Albino means no coloration and pink eyes. I've seen various isabelline birds including SIPOs but I've never seen an albino. Lloyd Esler [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Albino Oystercatcher From: John Dowding <jdowding AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:07:01 +1200 Albino variable oystercatchers are not as uncommon as you might expect. And they do tend to get noticed when they occur. There¹s one that breeds at Duder¹s Beach, South Auckland, called Blanche. I remember a record of one at Little Waihi (BoP) about 5 years ago, another at Mangawhai in 2008, one at Big Sand Island in the Kaipara last year. Also one at Tolaga Bay earlier this year. Probably others I¹ve forgotten or haven¹t heard about. John Dowding From: J & K Vaughan Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:42:59 +1200 To: Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Albino Oystercatcher Today Nick Beveridge at the Auckland Forest and Bird Office received a report of an albino oystercatcher, of unknown species, on Meola Reef last weekend. cheers Janie Vaughan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Albino Oystercatcher From: Rosemary Tully <rosemarytully AT clear.net.nz> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:27:42 +1200 Hi, I have a feeling that Tim had one a few years ago at Tauranga? I think the reason the Salvins is not ready to go yet is waterproofing.........Never hold an albatross facing your back........they bite. Rosemary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Albino Oystercatcher From: J & K Vaughan <kevinv AT clear.net.nz> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:42:59 +1200 Today Nick Beveridge at the Auckland Forest and Bird Office received a report of an albino oystercatcher, of unknown species, on Meola Reef last weekend. cheers Janie Vaughan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Conservation comments blog From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:32:06 -0000 Hi all- I have started a new blog on the above topic, mainly commenting on issues relating to bird conservation in NZ. Any comments or additional information to the posts is much appreciated. This blog represents personal views only. Kind regards Peter http://conservation-comments-nz.blogspot.com/ Subject: Tauranga seabirds 10 Aug From: Chris Gaskin <kwtl AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:54:51 -0700 (PDT) Hi all,   Bit late with this - Tuesday 10 Aug I was on out on the water from Tauranga with Kim Westerskov and his buddy Graham Butler aboard Graham's "Gemini Galaxsea"; ostensibly discussing a photo shoot but in reality 3 old(ish) ......s enjoying a stunning day out. We headed out from Tauranga Harbour (plenty of gannets working close to the shores of Matakana Island), past Mount Maunganui (home to well-studied colony of grey-faced petrels) on a fast flowing tide. Not far from the entrance blue penguins in 1s and 2s then the first of hundreds of diving petrels skitting this way and that for the next 6nms or so.  At 5.5nms a Cape petrel then at 8nms our first albatross (Gibson's). The stunning conditions (5kns S) continued as we headed out past Penguin Shoal to a spot east of Mayor Island (about 15nms from the Mount). Sort-of close to the start of the continental shelf edge. Over lunch we drifted for a while and slowly gathered several wandering albatrosses (all Gibson's),  a sub-adult Campbell albatross, a young northern giant petrel and off the stern 15 Cape petrels were chuckling away. Some white-fronted terns moved past, and a couple of grey-faced petrels checked us out. And not a drop of berley went over the side! For Graham the number of albatrosses around the boat were a real surprise and we started to talk about the merits of chumming.   Graham's business is dolphins and other cetaceans - in fact a blue whale had been seen in the area recently and we kept a keen lookout for blows. The cetaceans must have known it was his only day off because the only marine mammal seen was a solitary fur seal gamboling along.   We did see a gannet as we started back which gave rise to more discussion -the loss of gannet work-ups has been marked in recent years off Tauranga according to these guys, a bit of a surprise given the fairly sizeable colony over at While Island. A sign of the times?   We were back in the harbour around 5.15PM. Still beaut conditions.   So, folks. Anyone living in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, or in Auckland and bored with the Hauraki Gulf, I'd suggest a day out with these guys would be quite a treat. I'd be happy to pass on contact details.   Happy seabirding   Chris     PS - and the photo shoot subject? Try Googling "Snell's Window".       [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FW: Boobooks - All of them From: Sav Saville <binzsav AT clear.net.nz> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:40:42 +1200 Hi all, please see below and help James if possible. I am looking into the taxonomy of Southern Boobook, primarily to do with the Indonesian races but I need a good series of Australian recordings to back up my theories, and while at it, I will also look into the taxonomy of the species in Oz, including Tasmania and Queensland birds. I need to ask the following: I am currently involved in an on-going project regarding Southern Boobook and require as many sound recordings of the territorial call as possible - if any one is able to provide sound recordings they would be warmly acknowledged in the publication. Please send any recordings to jamesaeaton AT hotmail.com and please provide location details (site and state) and date. I require recordings from anywhere in Australia (particularly Tasmania and Queensland), New Guinea and New Zealand. Cheers, -- James Eaton Birdtour Asia www.birdtourasia.com Birdtour Asia Limited Sales Office: 17 Keats Avenue, Littleover, Derby, DE23 4EE, England. Tel: +44 1332 516254 Sav Saville Wrybill Birding Tours,NZ "Great birds, real birders" www.wrybill-tours.com +64 27 680 3740 24 Puketiro Drive Feilding 4702 New Zealand ---------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3078 - Release Date: 08/18/10 06:35:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Galahs at Mangatawhiri From: J & K Vaughan <kevinv AT clear.net.nz> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:47:36 +1200 Thanks Keith, We saw 7, possibly more were there, this afternoon about 2.30 south side of SH2, in the corn stubble, between Pendergrast Road and the new turn off to Kaiaua/ Miranda/Mangatawhiri cheers Kevin & Janie Vaughan _____ From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shorebird Centre Sent: Wednesday, 18 August 2010 9:30 AM To: 'Birding New Zealand' Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Galahs at Mangatawhiri I have had a report that over the last few days galahs have been present in the vicinity of the junction of SH2 and the Mangatawhiri/Kaiaua/Miranda turnoff. cheers Keith [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Galahs at Mangatawhiri From: "Shorebird Centre" <shorebird AT farmside.co.nz> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:11 +1200 I have had a report that over the last few days galahs have been present in the vicinity of the junction of SH2 and the Mangatawhiri/Kaiaua/Miranda turnoff. cheers Keith [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters From: "Brent Stephenson" <brent AT wrybill-tours.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:38:33 +1200 Nope...but I've seen a few up here around the UK in the last few weeks! Pretty cool critters. Cheers, Brent Brent Stephenson PhD (Ornithology) Eco-Vista: Photography & Research Ltd + Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ - "Great birds, real birders" PO Box 8291, Havelock North 4157, New Zealand Phone +64 6 877 6388 Fax +64 6 877 6300 Cell +64 274 426 638 email brent AT eco-vista.com or brent AT wrybill-tours.com web http://www.eco-vista.com and http://www.wrybill-tours.com -----Original Message----- From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of albertlaysan Sent: Tuesday, 17 August 2010 09:30 To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters Hi all has anyone seen any basking sharks in NZ's waters in the last year? Place and date would be good. Working on article about basking sharks at moment. Thanks Peter ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links Subject: SIPO? migration From: "David Melville" <david.melville AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:42:20 +1200 I have just heard an oystercatcher (presumably SIPO) flying over Dovedale - 2137h, 17 August. Cheers David [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Carolina wood ducks, Hamilton From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:18:46 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Neil Fitzgerald has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: Over the past couple of weeks I've heard a number of reports of Carolina/North American wood ducks on the Waikato River in Hamilton. It seems they (half a dozen or so) have been there for at least 15 months. Obviously 'escapes', but I'm still keen to see them in the 'wild'. From what I can gather, they are mostly seen on the true left bank north of the Pukete Bridge. I walked a few km along there today with no luck. If anyone does spot them, I'd appreciate it if you could pass on details in this thread. I found them a bit difficult to breed in captivity, but maybe they could get established. I don't know what risk they pose. Perhaps competition with grey teal? Thanks, Neil. -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=701&p=3004#p3004 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: RE: Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters From: "Kevin Matthews" <kble AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:24:45 +1200 Hi Peter, You may know the NZ Hoki fishery take a by-catch of Basking Shark during their deep water winter trawling; you maybe able to come up with some numbers. Cheers Kevin _____ From: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of albertlaysan Sent: Tuesday, 17 August 2010 9:30 a.m. To: BIRDING-NZ AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [BIRDING-NZ] Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters Hi all has anyone seen any basking sharks in NZ's waters in the last year? Place and date would be good. Working on article about basking sharks at moment. Thanks Peter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: little egret From: Rosemary Tully <rosemarytully AT clear.net.nz> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:35:08 +1200 Sorry folks, that should read Little Egret, not Intermediate. The Salvins Mollymawk was taken again to the Otarawairere Road Picnic area, it preened, flapped, sat, walked. Brought it back home again, It is now 3.6kg, We think it is a female........called her Sally. For those of you wanting to visit the Apanui Saltmarsh, walk along the Whakatane River, up stream of the Yacht Club. Or the bottom (river end) of McAlister Street. Free car park here and just walk past the little bridge to the river. cheers Rosemary 'Never frown, even when you are sad, Because you never know who is Falling in love with your smile. ' "Every one smiles in the same language" Rosemary Tully 513A Taneatua Road RD1 Whakatane 3191 New Zealand Phone 0064 7 3129475 Website http://www.nzbirds.com/more/rescue.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Request for basking shark sightings- NZ waters From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:30:27 -0000 Hi all has anyone seen any basking sharks in NZ's waters in the last year? Place and date would be good. Working on article about basking sharks at moment. Thanks Peter Subject: intermediate egret From: Rosemary Tully <rosemarytully AT clear.net.nz> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:04:26 +1200 Hi An Intermediate Egret has been hanging around the Apanui Saltmarsh Wetlands by Whakatane River. I heard it was still there today. Mandy Hague has some very good photos of it. cheers Rosemary 'Never frown, even when you are sad, Because you never know who is Falling in love with your smile. ' "Every one smiles in the same language" Rosemary Tully 513A Taneatua Road RD1 Whakatane 3191 New Zealand Phone 0064 7 3129475 Website http://www.nzbirds.com/more/rescue.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Australian Bittern at Diggers Valley Road, Herekino, Northland From: "Gary Little" <garyasta AT farmside.co.nz> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:21:31 +1200 Hi All I saw an Australian Bittern this morning just off the road at about 5.3km up Diggers Valley Road from the Herekino end. The bird had gone into its upraised beak position and was in an exposed section in a field on a bank just above a small swamp next to the road. Attached is a location image. Sorry I had no chance to photograph as I was out training. Cheers Gary Gary Little & Asta Wistrand Enjoy a FOREST-HOMESTAY in the Far North of New Zealand, log onto www.foreststay.com Racewalking, running and walking training programs at www.profitness.net.nz AN INTERNATIONAL WAY TO WIN -- VIA THE INTERNET, IN ANY COUNTRY The Race Walking New Zealand website can be located at http://www.racewalkingnewzealand.org Get Skype and call me for free. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: wrybill blog From: Jan Walker <shesagreen AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:38:29 +1200 Hi all, Wrybills have been seen at the Ashley Estuary already, I saw one on Saturday, briefly, and a local video camera-lady has seen some too. 70+ at Lake Ellesmere seen by Colin and Steve the other w/e They are moving through now. Cheers, jan On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 8:20 AM, albertlaysan wrote: > > > Hi all- blog has been updated. > > http://wrybill.blogspot.com > > Looked at Ashley river mouth also yesterday but no wrybills there yet > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ BIRDING-NZ is moderated by Brent Stephenson Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BIRDING-NZ/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: BIRDING-NZ-digest AT yahoogroups.com BIRDING-NZ-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BIRDING-NZ-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: wrybill blog From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:20:50 -0000 Hi all- blog has been updated. http://wrybill.blogspot.com Looked at Ashley river mouth also yesterday but no wrybills there yet Subject: Birdsaplenty festival From: "Jacqui Hughes" <jacquihughes AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:51:42 +1200 The annual Birdsaplenty festival will be held in the eastern bay of Plenty from 24 September to 17 October. If you would like a programme forwarded email jacquihughes AT xtra.co.nz [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: wrybills at Avon-Heathcote Estuary From: "albertlaysan" <langlands AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:59:10 -0000 Hi all sighted a flock of 15 at Charlesworth Wetland today. Largest flock I have ever sighted at estuary. Birds on southward migration now ? Rgds Peter Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Possible Nankeen Kestrel - Taumaranui From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:15:57 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, sav has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: I've just spoken to a lady who thinks she has seen a Nankeen Kestrel near Taumaranui. Her description was fairly convincing - particularly in terms of the wing colour which she described as a rich, warm, chestnut. I'd give it a more tahn 50-50 chance of being correct. The bird was about 10km from Taumaranui along River Rd, which is SH43. She will look for it again, and has said that she will let me know if she is successful. cheers -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=697&p=2981#p2981 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: luecistic white faced heron From: "Kevin Matthews" <kble AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:21:32 +1200 For anyone that is in or passing through the upper Hawkes Bay a leucistic White Faced Heron was seen last Wednesday on the eastern shore at the north end of Lake Tutira. Cheers Kevin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: SIPO migration From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:07:37 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Ian Southey has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: This last few days has been great departure weather for oystercatchers during the settled weather as the centre of the high pressure weather system crossed last Wednesday and continuing as the northerly (tail) winds pick up as it passes over. Wednesday I was at Tapora on the Kaipara and spent a lot of time trying to read leg flags on one legged Knots but I heard the odd burst of chatter from the SIPO flock but there was a Harrier cruising and I passed it off as disturbance and didn't notice any birds leaving at that stage. When I turned my attention to the smaller stuff I heard the SIPO starting to speak up again and it built until a fairly large group of 45 birds departed at 1211, half an hour after high tide. Over the next about 30 minutes I saw nine flocks totalling 178 birds heading south on migration. The first clue to a departure is a few calls, just a single note , not the double one, and they increase in frequency and start to run together. Calling tends to be fairly continuous as they leave and it looks a bit untidy, the birds weave around a bit as they head off, some birds drop out at various stages and others may straggle after trying to catch up. They gain height slowly but steadily, it takes a few hundred metres at least before they start to form up in any sort of a formation and they are often calling until they are out of sight. Although some of the birds started off parallel to the beach all of the flocks I saw headed inside South Head so they must be crossing the peninsula somewhere. After this the tide had fallen enough and the remaining birds were dispersing to feed. On Thursday I was at Kidd's and saw a couple of flocks go after high tide as I was leaving but the wind had strengthened enough that I didn't want to stay and watch. When the weather is right and the tides are rising in the late afternoon to gather up the birds Miranda can be a good place to see this and Mangere should be a good spot too.I have tended to favour a rising tide in the past but apparently it is not necessary and they may leave until dark at least. This season I have seen some flocks heading off on a more southerly direction than I have in the past. Some seem to be going slightly east of south. If they continued in this direction they would be heading for somewhere like the Bounty Islands so they must turn back west a bit but they could be crossing a substantial chunk of the North Island. The SIPO flocks are obviously depleted now but there should still be plenty of departures on good days for a few weeks yet. Most Wrybill leave late but they may be going now too and will continue into September. Also there are some good rare waders still out there this winter. The only one that seems to have disappeared is the SemiP. Ian -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=696&p=2980#p2980 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Cape Barren Goose, Mowhanau Beach, Wanganui From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:03:46 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Peter Frost has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: Following a report from one of Birding Wanganui's members, who in turn was passing on a report of a possible Cape Barren Goose from a resident of Mowhanau Beach township, near Wanganui, I went out this morning and confirmed the initial identification. Sav has suggested that the bird is probably an escape, as there are few records of the species as a vagrant in Australia (and therefore unlikely to be a vagrant here). Nevertheless, it may be worth reporting, in case anyone wants to see it. It has apparently been around for a few days in the paddocks near the entrance to the township. I saw it in the paddock next to the community hall, on the left immediately after turning into the township off Rapanui Rd, which in turn comes off SH1 opposite Westmere Service Station, just as you leave Wanganui in the direction of New Plymouth. The bird was not shy but was alert, frequently looking up and around while feeding. When I moved a bit too close, it walked away immediately, suggesting that it wasn't comfortable with people close up. As you can see from the attached photos, it looks to be in good condition. Peter Frost -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=695&p=2975#p2975 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: BirdingNZ.net Alert: Inner city biodiversity From: <noreply AT birdingnz.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:29:23 -0400 Hello BIRDING-NZ, Colin Miskelly has posted an important post on the BirdingNZ.net website. -------------------------------------------- Here's the text of the post: An immature falcon flew over our house (Mt Cook, Wellington - near the old museum) this evening, pursued by a couple of tui. And a couple of kaka circled over soon after. The falcon was the first in the three months that we have been here, but kaka are seen or heard several times a week, and tui are common. Colin Miskelly -------------------------------------------- You can use the following link to view and reply to the post: http://www.birdingnz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=694&p=2963#p2963 Please note that email sent by reply to this message will not go to BirdingNZ.net. Use the link above instead. -- BirdingNZ.net Subject: Surveyor needed From: simonmustoe AT hotmail.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:02:16 -0000 Hi, I am potentially looking for someone to help with some land-based obs of seabirds and marine mammals starting next week. Ideally, the person should have their own scope and be located in the Taranaki area (not absolutely essential). If you might be interested, or know someone who could help, please respond to me directly. Regards, Simon Mustoe. Subject: Kermadecs - seabirds & cetaceans From: Chris Gaskin <kwtl AT xtra.co.nz> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:23:51 -0700 (PDT) Hi all, Karen (Baird) plus four others headed off Monday on a run to Nuie via the Kermadecs: the Kermadec Whale Expedition 2010 - an acoustic survey as well as keeping a keen lookout for cetaceans at the surface, and seabirds of course..  Monday 9th Aug After departing Marsden Point midday she texted from between Bream Head (Whangarei Harbour entrance) and Poor Knights to say "Westerly 15kns, broad reach lot of swell: diving petrels, some grey-faced petrels and fairy prions..." Then, after her first full day at sea she wrote:  Tuesday 10th Aug"Unable to do a broad reach last night so were too far north of our rhomb line and had to gybe this morning then back on a true course to Raoul with spinnaker up! Great sailing today on a broad reach. Everyone has their sea legs so all good.  Took the sail down to stop for the first whale listening. Will download recordings tonight - thought I heard dolphins.  Seabirds - grey-faced petrel, Pintado, grey petrel northern giant petrel; albatrosses - black-browed, white capped, and unbelievably a Chatham Albatross. Now to write a blog to send off tomorrow and download sounds before my shift." You can follow Karen's progress on http://www.thekermadecs.org/news-and-blogs/blog The new Kermadecs website has been set up to celebrate the regions extraordinary biodiversity. Plenty to peruse - take a look. Nice! www.thekermadecs.org Happy birding Chris [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: wind turbines and bird strike From: todd nachowitz <toddnach AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:39:22 +1200 Hi Listies, If anyone is interested in the issue of bird strikes and wind turbines, there's an interesting and relevant article in the current issue of Ecology and Society. The article is available for free and can be download from their web site at . BTW, it's a great journal and you can sign up so that the contents pages are emailed to you. Marcus Eichhorn and Martin Drechsler 2010. "Spatial Trade-Offs between Wind Power Production and Bird Collision Avoidance in Agricultural Landscapes" in Ecology and Society, Vol 15, issue 2. It's based on a case study from Germany, but it's relevant for wind power generation here in the Waikato region and beyond. I seem to remember some discussion on this topic in the past. cheers, todd Subject: impressive garden "assemblage" From: "Crossland, Andrew" <andrew.crossland AT ccc.govt.nz> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:35:10 +1200 Phil Crutchley has just sent me an email to advise that recent rains have resulted in flooding over his lifestyle block paddocks and neighbours property at Motukarara, near Lake Ellesmere. he doesn;t sound too worried though as he's too busy birding from his 2 storey balcony! Not many people have these kinds of influx's to their back gardens! AC ________________________________ Hi Andrew Got home and with all the flooding, i did a bird count at 5pm from the bedroom window over looking my back paddock and the two neighbours paddocks. masked lapwing 54 p stilt 59 duck 82 g teal 72 p duck 9 shoveler 14 b swan 8 pukeko 19 wf heron 2 sipo 2. cheers Phil ********************************************************************** This electronic email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. The views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Christchurch City Council. If you are not the correct recipient of this email please advise the sender and delete. Christchurch City Council http://www.ccc.govt.nz ********************************************************************** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]