Royal Spoonbill in Shoal

I had been tipped off that 4 Royal Spoonbill had been seen in Shoal bay feeding in the estuary about two hours before high tide so I have been looking out for them. Today was a 3.5 metre high tide and so I was checking out the usual high tide roosts that I like to keep an eye on to monitor shorebird numbers.

Pied stilt are plentiful at the present time and South island pied oystercatchers. However just  a sprinkling of wrybill and banded dotterel so far this season.

 At my last shell bank count this morning I was pleased to see a solitary Royal Spoonbill alongside 99 pied stilt and 23 bar-tailed godwit bracing against a stiff southerly. Some of the pied stilts were sheltering behind a few mangroves but the spoonbill was still with head tucked most of the time  to withstand the breeze.

Royal Spoonbill with Pied Stilt sheltering from the breeze.

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Kereru on the Wire

Kereru are not often seen this side of Lake road. However I did see one fly from the Northboro Reserve through a neigbouring property two weeks ago.

 Following a heavy downpour of rain today after mid-day this kereru landed on the power cable balancing itself by raising its tailfeathers before moving  into the Jacaranda tree. It then returned to   the wire before heading off in the direction I had seen one flying previously..