Miranda

Trip Report New Zealand 2004

Simon Plat, Maaike Poppinga
Dates: 24-02-2003 till 13-03-2003
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Miranda Shorebird centre

Location: The Miranda Shorebird centre is located along the Firth Of Thames, about 1.5 hours south east of Auckland (North Island). Miranda Shorebird centre is 2-3 km north of the (tiny) town of Miranda on the west side of the Firth Of Thames. Best birding spots are near and on the way to "The Hide" and at the Tamaire River Mouth, reachable by car (first turn right after a bridge into a unpaved path, when coming from the Shorebird centre).

Costs: Birding is free of charge. Accommodation in the centre was (NZ $ 50,-) for a two person room including kitchen.

Date(s): 23 and 24-11-2004

Notes: Miranda is one of the nicest shorebird areas on North Island, with coastal marshes, lagoons, mangroves and mudflats. Best time to visit during winter or spring with the highest numbers of migratory waders around. Best time to bird is around high tide, though New Zealand Dotterel can be found anytime.

Highlights: New Zealand Grebe (4 - not seen in Miranda but at Strakers Pond in Waiwere (north of Auckland)), Australian Shoveler
(2), New Zealand Scaup (V - also at Strakers Pond in Waiwere), South Island Oystercatcher (X), Variable Oystercatcher (V), Wrybill (40), New Zealand Dotterel (5), Black-billed Gull (XX)

Pics:

	Miranda Shorebird centre offers good accomodation in a charming setting, close to the best wader spots in New Zealand.
A typical birding scene at the Taramaire river mouth, the best spot for Wrybill during my visit with up to 40 present.
	A mixed breeding colony of White-fronted Terns, Black-billed Gulls and both Oystercatchers at The Hide. This is also the best spot for New Zealand Dotterel.

Bird List:

Column 1: E= endemic
Column 2: N=Near-threatened; V=Vulnerable

E	V	Poliocephalus rufopectus	New Zealand Grebe	Nieuwzeelandfuut	4
		Morus serrator	Australian Gannet	Pacifische Jan-van-gent	1
		Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	Little Black Cormorant	Zwarte Aalscholver	X
		Phalacrocorax varius	Pied Cormorant	Bonte Aalscholver	X
		Egretta novaehollandiae	White-faced Heron	Witwangreiger	X
		Anas gracilis	Grey Teal	Grijze Taling	V
		Anas rhynchotis	Australian Shoveler	Australische Slobeend	2
		Anas superciliosa	Pacific Black Duck	Wenkbrouweend	X
E		Aythya novaeseelandiae	New Zealand Scaup	Nieuwzeelandse Toppereend	V
E		Tadorna variegata	Paradise Shelduck	Paradijscasarca	2
		Circus approximans	Swamp Harrier	Moeraskiekendief	2
		Porphyrio porphyrio	Purple Swamphen	Purperkoet	V
E		Haematopus finschi	South Island Oystercatcher	Nieuwzeelandse Bonte Scholekster	X
E		Haematopus unicolor	Variable Oystercatcher	Nieuwzeelandse Zwarte Scholekster	V
		Himantopus leucocephalus	White-headed Stilt	Witkopsteltkluut	XX
E	V	Anarhynchus frontalis	Wrybill	Scheefsnavelplevier	40
E	V	Charadrius obscurus	New Zealand Dotterel	Rosse Plevier	5
		Vanellus miles	Masked Lapwing	Maskerkievit	V
		Arenaria interpres	Ruddy Turnstone	Steenloper	X
		Calidris acuminata	Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Siberische Strandloper	2
		Calidris canutus	Red Knot	Kanoet	XX
		Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	Rosse Grutto	XX
		Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit	Grutto	X
		Stercorarius parasiticus	Parasitic Jaeger	Kleine Jager	1
E	V	Larus bulleri	Black-billed Gull	Zwartsnavelmeeuw	XX
		Larus dominicanus	Kelp Gull	Kelpmeeuw	V
E		Larus scopulinus	Red-billed Gull	Roodsnavelmeeuw	X
		Sterna albifrons	Little Tern	Dwergstern	1
		Sterna caspia	Caspian Tern	Reuzenstern	2
		Sterna striata	White-fronted Tern	Tara-stern	XX
E	Nt	Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae	New Zealand Pigeon	Nieuwzeelandse Duif	V
		Todirhamphus sanctus	Sacred Kingfisher	Heilige IJsvogel	V
		Hirundo neoxena	Welcome Swallow	Welkomzwaluw	XX
		Rhipidura fuliginosa	Grey Fantail	Grijze Waaierstaart	1
E		Gerygone igata	Grey Gerygone	Maori-mangrovezanger	V
		Zosterops lateralis	Silvereye	Grijsrugbrilvogel	V
E		Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae	Tui	Toei	V

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