Last weekend we were lucky to get last minute overnight accommodation at Pūkorokoro/Miranda Shorebird Centre to break our homebound journey after a family birthday in Auckland. The Pūkororo/Miranda Godwits will be departing shortly for their journey to Alaska to breed and will break their journey with stops on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway to refuel. They have no such luxury when they depart Alaska for New Zealand in the Northern autumn, making a non stop flight of 11-12000km over 8-9 days.

The tides were not ideal for our visit but as we were departing on Monday morning the incoming tide was encouraging clouds of Bar-tailed godwits and South Island Pied oystercatchers onto the Stilt Ponds to rest. Hearing the rush of wind through their wings as they pass metres above you never gets old so despite the bright middle of the day sun we had to stop and enjoy the spectacle.

In addition to the godwits there were huge waves of Tōrea/South Island Pied oystercatchers flying in and some good numbers of Red knots dotted amongst the godwits.

Like the male godwits the Red Knots are colouring up nicely in preparation for their breeding season.

If you’ve been planning to see the godwits this season, time is running short as they begin their departure this month. The early leavers breed in south western Alaska and the later leavers at higher latitudes on the Brooks Range before rewinding their journey back to New Zealand in our spring. Seeing such huge flocks of incredible birds in flight is always amazing and to have them so accessible, approximately an hour from New Zealand’s largest city, is unique. The effort of a day trip is well rewarded.

Photos with Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 800mm f6.3 VR S