Shorebirds at Miranda
| BIRDS: The Miranda Coast is the most important wintering ground for Wrybill Plover Anarhynchus frontalis. This endemic is unique among birds in having a bill curved to the side. The estimated total species population is only 5300, up to 40% of which flock to Miranda at the end of the breeding season. | |
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At least three
endemic species breed at Miranda; the New Zealand
Dotterel
Charadrius obscurus,
Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus
unicolour and Black
-Billed Gull Larus
novaehollandiae . Other breeding species include Pied Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Spur-winged Plover Vanellus miles, White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae, Banded Rail Rallus Phillippensis, Black-backed Gull Larus dominicanus, Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri White-fronted Tern Sterna striata and Pukeko Porphyrio porphyrio . |
| Wrybill at
Miranda Photo Credit: Paul Harrison | |
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Miranda is an
important wintering ground for thousands of Arctic nesting
shorebirds. Most common species are Bar-tailed
Godwit
Limosa
lapponica
(7-10,000) and Lesser or Red Knot Calidris
canutus (5-6,000). Other species present in smaller numbers each year include Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres, Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, Terek Sandpiper Tringa terek ,Red necked Stint Calidris ruficollis, and Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea . |
| Bar-tailed
Godwits in breeding and non-breeding plumage Photo Credit: Brian Chudleigh | |
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In recent years
the following species were also present: Marsh
Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatalis,
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis
fulva, Pectoral
Sandpiper Calidris melanotus,
Asiatic Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus, and Large sand Dotterel
Charadrius leschenaulti . In addition several other vagrants have occurred. In recent years the following species have been recorded: Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus, Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus and Little Whimbrel Numenius minutus . |
| Waders in Flight Photo Credit: Adrian Riegen | |
| Other species include: Grey Teal Anas gracilis, New Zealand Shoveler Anas rhynchotis, New Zealand Kingfisher Halcyon sancta, five species of Cormorant, Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilis and Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia . | |
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MIGRATION Thousands of shorebirds can be seen on the shellbanks and tidal flats at Miranda on the Firth of Thames. Many of them breed on the tundra of Eastern Siberia and Alaska. In late September through to early November they arrive exhausted and hungry at the end of the last leg of their epic journey. For some it is two months and over 12,000 km since they left their Arctic breeding grounds. Over the next few months they will remain at Miranda feeding, resting and moulting. Then in late March they will set off once again, flying north to the Arctic. It is a remarkable tale of migration, and it is told at the Miranda Shorebird Centre. Miranda also plays an important role in migration systems within New Zealand. Each year huge flocks of Pied Oystercatchers return after breeding in the South Island. Over 20,000 can be found on the Firth of Thames from late summer. Up to 2500 Wrybill, around 40% of the total number, also flock at Miranda for the non breeding season. At the same time there may also be hundreds of Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus . | |
Firth of Thames, 283 East Coast Rd, R.D. 3, POKENO, New Zealand
Phone / Fax: +64 9 232 2781 Email:admin@miranda-shorebird.org.nz