Category: Vagrant

Wilson’s Phalarope

wilsons-phalarope-nov-2016-napier

A Wilson’s Phalarope (non-breeding plumage) turned up at Westshore, Napier causing great excitement for NZ birds.  The bird appears quite settled on a little pond with Pied Stilts, Banded Dotterel and a few Grey Teal for company.  We enjoyed a good long look at it.  It was first mistaken for a Marsh Sandpiper, but it’s legs are not as long and it feeds quite differently (and has a distinctive white rump in flight).  This is the 4th NZ record for the species.

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