Lake Wairarapa - latest shorebird survey results

  • Published Date 23 Dec 2014

On the 25th 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:  

Māori Name

English name

Number counted

Kawau

Black shag

118

Kawau tūi

Little black shag

3

Kawau paka

Little shag

14

Matuku moana

White-faced heron

17

 

Cattle egret

1

Kotuku Ngutupapa

Royal spoonbill

5

Kakianau

Black swan

2986

 

Canada goose

83

Kuihi

Feral goose

40

Pūtangitangi

Paradise shelduck

470

Tōrea

SI pied oystercatcher

2

Torea pango

Variable oystercatcher

15

Poaka

Pied stilt

461

Tūturiwhatu

Banded dotterel

7

 

Black-fronted dotterel

5

 

Pacific golden plover

15

 

Spur-winged plover

45

Huahou

Red knot

5

 

Pectoral sandpiper

2

Kuaka

Bar-tailed godwit

53

Karoro

Black-backed gull

109

Tarāpuka

Black-billed gull

25

Taranui

Caspian tern

10

 

White-winged black tern

1

 

Total

4492

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

Updated April 29, 2022 at 11:50 AM

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