Thursday, September 24, 2009

They're coming back!


The godwits are returning and arriving exhausted after their journey south. I took the opportunity last Sunday to head down to Foxton and see about 100 godwits that had returned over the previous week or so. That is about half of the resident population down there. A number of Jesse Conklin's datalogger birds have also returned, which is great for his project where he'll be able to get a record of their flight paths. I didn't get any photos of the birds (godwits, red knots and pacific golden plovers) before a pair of inconsiderate kayakers went close to the roosting colony and spooked them off. However, I did get a nice shot of a white heron which has been resident at the estuary this winter - a nice treat.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

YOu need to come and stay with us. When the godwits return to Pt England they are right outside our window :) Haven't seen them yet though....
Dorothy

Craig Steed said...

Oooh, you are so lucky, that must be great just looking out at them! Any there yet?