The pair of nesting banded dotterel at Ashley Estuary I have been following have brought all three of their eggs through and (so far) the chicks are doing well. The parents attacking all comers, even starlings. Photographing them was very difficult and these are not good shots but they are a record. Hopefully with some camo nettings and more time I might get better shots before they get too big
This is the male parent of the chicks also posted for this date. Interestingly a lot of single males around also in breeding plumage but very few other females.
Female with chick
the female on watch
Friendly and curious juvenile landed quite close to me on several occasions.
Laridae: Larus novaehollandiae ssp. scopulinus - Red Billed Gull
Single individual drying off.
Starling chick on the nest in a pohutukawa tree hollow approx 2 metres off the ground.
One of two starlings going in and out of a nest hole in an old willow.
Plump and healthy kereru feeding on kowhai leaves.
Behind fishing boat in Fiordland. A pair of them. Stayed at a fair distance away but when offered bait came one metre away from boat.
just caught some supper!
Two at the beach today - I've previously only ever spotted one. Making plenty of noise as they patrolled the coast on an outgoing tide. Made occasional swoops down toward the water.
Good fishing in clear waters on the outgoing tide. Three birds seen in total.
Friendly and curious juvenile landed quite close to me on several occasions.
Single individual drying off.
Seven in a close group on the point. Perhaps waiting for the now submerged rocky outcrops they're often seen on to appear with the outgoing tide? At least one juvenile.
Aside from the count, I was in the vineyard for about 40 minutes observing a group of 4 Silvereyes who had got into the nets. This was a chance for me to photograph them as they are too quick to photograph when the are free! After I photographed them, I removed them from the bird netting.
There are also blackbird in the photo. I put food on the lawn, and the Song thrush came, but it not interested of the food I put...
In the early evening before dusk these birds were found rest in the tree tops and building tops of Hudson hall. The picture is a little distorted, however some has a tan underbelly with brown speckles? In the area behind Hudson Hall 5 species of fruiting plants observed with 7 plants total.
Seen resting on the branch. Flew around awhile between the trees and rested again on a higher branch. Feeding was not observed.
An individual was seen pecking on the ground probably feeding on insects. Other individuals were seen far away.