Lake Wairarapa - latest shorebird survey results

On the 25^th of November a mixed team of staff from the Department of Conservation and Greater Wellington Regional Council carried out a survey of shorebirds and waterfowl along the eastern shoreline of Lake Wairarapa.  Conditions were fairly favourable for the survey, with a lake level of 10.15 metres above datum.

A total of 24 species of shorebirds and waterfowl and a total of 4492 birds were counted.  Highlights of the day included two pectoral sandpipers (a scarce Arctic-breeding migrant), one white-winged black tern (a rare migrant from SE Asia) and one cattle egret (a first record for this set of surveys).

 A complete list of species encountered is provided below:  

Click on any of the English bird names in the table above and this will take you to the relevant species page on the NZ birds online website providing information and photographs for each species.  

If you'd like further information about these results contact Nikki McArthur Nikki.Mcarthur@gw.govt.nz