Six Ornithological Society members had a 'mystery tour' to the Ashley Estuary near Waikuku in North Canterbury.

Looking over the southern part of the estuary there were a few young Bar-tailed Godwits freshly back from Alaska showing off their spangly backs. They quite often use this part of the estuary when they first return, perhaps not recognising that there is better habitat and food just north of the river - or perhaps the adults keep them off their patch until the young become savvy enough to weedle their way in there. A few Australasian Shovelers brightened up the otherwise brown or monochrome plumages of the other species present.

So to the more interesting northern section of the estuary. Plenty of whitebaiters in the car-park area, but they didn't seem to be catching much. A short stop to look over the rear lagoon brought fairly distant views of a couple of Wrybills and a passing Black-fronted Tern - perhaps all come down river for a feed. On the edge of the paddock someone spotted a silent Shining Cuckoo - pretty good going as they are usually very unobtrusive. This one showed its shiny green back and striped front off to the max as it flitted from bush to bush. The Grey Warblers seemed to know it was there for there wasn't a peep from any of them. On the estuary itself was a flock of about 300 White-fronted Terns taking to the air from time to time in their usual 'dread' behaviour, even though no threat seemed to be present, but little else of note in the river mouth area. The Spotted Shags have moved roost from the northern point of Ashworth's Spit to a gravel island in the mouth - probably displaced by the whitebaiters. There is more gravel in the mouth these days - it seems a gravel hump that had formed upstream a little has been washed down in the last main flood a few months ago. Hopefully more extraction of gravel further upstream will keep the mouth from being filled with the stuff.

On the mudflats to the north a few close godwits on the main channel and 6 Royal Spoonbills. Most waders were very distant however across Saltwater Creek - brown smudges on brown mudflats. Eventually a Far-eastern Curlew was found and the tell-tale darker plumage of a couple of Whimbrels - though they were little more than dots even through a scope and their curved beak was barely discernible. One Knot played hide and seek in a shallow channel. Birding is definitely easier on a rapidly rising tide here - making sure you are off the mudflats 1-2 hours before high tide - to push birds into view from channels. We saw 44 species of bird at the site - not bad for 3 hours of birdwatching in New Zealand

One annoying note was the driving through of part of the scirpus/plagianthus saltmarsh by some moron in a 4WD. The sooner a decent gate is put up to keep vehicles out the better. Some people just don't read signs. Likewise the no dog rule was being ignored by fishers who let their dogs run all over the mudflats chasing the birds. The new ranger will certainly have plenty to do this year.


Nick Allen