Images from our recently completed 14th annual Miranda Field Course. Edited to add: for a participants view of the Field course read this blog! Enrollments are now open for the next course, 9-15 January, 2013. Giant kokopu and koura. Photo:
January 2012 sightings
Wrybill and Pied Oystercatcher numbers are increasing as South Island breeding birds return. Bittern have been confirmed breeding at Miranda for the first time since records began, with four well developed juveniles seen in late December. The sub-tropical weather system
Visitors: welcome and unwelcome
These four bittern chicks raised near the Shorebird Centre were most welcome…. This Australian assisted immigrant photographed in our central courtyard this week was not.
New bird hide for Miranda
The result of a very successful working bee last weekend is a new hide. Considerably larger and more elaborate than the current hide, it was built at the shorebird centre, then dismantled and taken down to the shell bank. It
December-11 Sightings
Banded Rail are still being seen regularly in the mangroves at the carpark gate. Look back once you’ve parked your car. There have also been several sightings of Bittern in tha area lately. The Marsh sandpiper is still being seen
Join us for our next Field Course January 2012
Our six day Field Course covers a lot of ground! intensive and fun! Join us from the 21st to 27th of January. Ornithology Shorebird identification catching and banding birds bird structure with a dissection shorebird monitoring techniques data collection and
November-11 Sightings
The Miranda high tide roost is now covered in godwits and knots, including many juvenile godwits. Wrybill numbers are down to about 100 with all others away on their breeding grounds. The two gull-billed terns are still regulars near the
Recent Sightings October 2011
Spring is back and with it the bird numbers at Miranda begin to increase. While the SIPO flock is low and the Wrybill numbers have recently dropped the Godwits and Knots are back to make up for it- including juvenile
Recent Sightings Aug-11
The Marsh Sandpiper stayed the winter and is still present on the Stilt Ponds. The SIPO have departed to the South Island, and the Wrybill are leaving slowly. Those that will attempt to breed should be gone in the next
Recent Sightings May-11
Most of the Arctic Migrants have headed off on their journey north, SIPO are using the normal roost at Miranda and the smaller roost at the south of Kaiaua, but Wrybill are largely found between Taramaire and the limeworks. A