I have been searching for a reef heron in Shoal Bay for several years to complete the five birds I am studying that the estuary is important to support and which earns Shoal Bay the DoC title of a Site of Significant Wildlife interest.
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| Reef Heron Shoal bay |
The other birds include the NZ dotterel, banded dotterel, wrybill and Caspian tern. I have seen the others on many occasions but this is my first sighting of a reef heron in this estuary. It is such a timid and solitary bird.
It landed on a rocky area that was uncovered by the tide and then haunched up waiting which is a classic pose of this bird. I have included some other photos of reef heron that I have taken on the East coast.
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| Reef Heron East Coast |
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| Reef Heron East Coast |
