The Wairau is one of my favourite places, the birds are great and the habitat is awesome.
I bird in the area around the Wash Bridge on State Highway 63. The wind and water swept habitat is home to Black-Fronted Terns, Black-Billed Gulls (so far not present on this section of the river), New Zealand Pipit, and Banded Dotterel. There has also been a report of a New Zealand Falcon near the bridge. Braided rivers are like several rivers plaited and weaved. The islands in the middle are great places to nest. |
So yesterday I headed out to my awesome new patch. It was nice and windy, so not many small birds. The ones that where there... well they could only fly a bit like this / except, maybe on even more of a slant.
The first bird I saw was a Black-Fronted Tern diving over the water. Of course I went closer to have a look. I shot some OK pics, but it can be hard with only a 80-200mm lens
The first bird I saw was a Black-Fronted Tern diving over the water. Of course I went closer to have a look. I shot some OK pics, but it can be hard with only a 80-200mm lens
After looking at the terns I turned around to look for a Skylark I could hear. It was so windy that it was hard to tell were the noise was coming from, let alone spot the bird. But I did catch a glimse of a Canada Goose. Unlike North Island birders, I'm not used to seeing them so I walked toward it, trying to get a better view, and some good shots! As I got closer a little sharp-winged bird landed near me, little did I know, I was but a few metres away from his nest. |
I did manage to get a bit closer to the goose, but for the shot I got it was hardly worth it. I noticed a lot of dotterel activity. They were acting like there chicks were not somewhere, so I geuss that was where the nest was. I was wrong.
Then the adoreable pair landed together behind me. I crept up on them a bit then lay down so as to get some good pics. They came pretty close, it was amazing!
The male and the female started going different ways, maybe trying to confused me. The female was coming really close to me then suddenly, a few feet away, she sat down. I knew what that meant, a nest! I stood up and sadly that frighted her and she ran in to the bushes, I took a shot then got away from her nest quickly so she could return.
On the way back to the car I saw at least two more Banded Dotterels.I hope they all have a good season this year!
When I got home, well look at the egg shot closely...
Then the adoreable pair landed together behind me. I crept up on them a bit then lay down so as to get some good pics. They came pretty close, it was amazing!
The male and the female started going different ways, maybe trying to confused me. The female was coming really close to me then suddenly, a few feet away, she sat down. I knew what that meant, a nest! I stood up and sadly that frighted her and she ran in to the bushes, I took a shot then got away from her nest quickly so she could return.
On the way back to the car I saw at least two more Banded Dotterels.I hope they all have a good season this year!
When I got home, well look at the egg shot closely...