Taking advantage of the perfect tidal conditions, this morning I counted the roosting shorebirds found between the Weiti river entrance and Dacre Point. Winter is perhaps not the best time to count waders in Auckland. Endemic species like the South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) have migrated to the South Island to breed while some native species, like the Godwit, have migrated overseas. However there are always a few birds that for some reason (too young etc..) decide to stay and spend the winter in the region. Another advantage of doing counts in winter (and on a week day) is that you're likely to be out there by yourself, which I always like - plus the lack of people helps to not spook the birds.

The sandspit at the mouth of the Weiti River was not particularly busy but still yielded some interesting numbers:

• 2 Royal Spoonbill
• 3 Pied Stilt
• 1 Northern New Zealand Dotterel
• 2 Spur-winged plover
• 2 Caspian Tern (1 adult and 1 noisy youngster)
• 22 SIPO
• 2 Variable Oystercatcher
• 2 Black-backed Gull

The lagoon behind the spit wasn't open to the sea and by the looks of the water I don't think it has recently been. In the lagoon I counted:

• 2 Paradise Shelduck (1 male and 1 female)
• 3 Brown Teal (nice surprise)
• 2 Royal Spoonbill
• ~10 Little Black Shag
• 1 White-faced Heron
  

The beach over the hill, at Dacre Cottage reserve, wasn't particularly busy and I only saw a small flock of VOCs and a single tern:

• 1 White-fronted tern
• 13 Variable Oystercatcher

However, the highlight of the day were the numbers of birds and species seen just across the dunes from the reserve, in the paddocks of the on-going new development (Weiti Bay):

• ~80 SIPO
• 10 VOC
• 4 Pied Stilt
• 10 Paradise shelduck
• 2 Royal Spoonbill
• 30 Canada Goose
• 3 White-faced heron
  

A morning well spent :)