![Juvenile Black-fronted Tern on the beach.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/lack-fronted-tern.jpeg)
This summer the estuary from shore to sea has been abundant with hundreds of birds feeding and resting — more than 20 species, not counting common birds like magpies or pigeons, or Shovelers, Paradise Shelducks and other ducks.
We’ve seen flocks of Dotterels, Oystercatchers, Terns, and Godwits.
It’s not too surprising we see all these birds: Waikawa Estuary is roughly 25 Km from Foxton Estuary and 20 Km from Waikanae Estuary, as the bird flies. That makes Waikawa a good stopping point if they’re travelling between the two, though many of these birds reside here and some raise their chicks here too.
Bird | Length cm | Weight grams | NZ status | Conservation status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tarapirohe | Black-fronted Tern | 28 | 95 | endemic | nationally endangered |
Taranui | Caspian Tern | 50 | 700 | native | nationally vulnerable |
Ngutuparore | Wrybill | 20 | 55 | endemic | nationally vulnerable |
Pohowera | Banded Dotterel | 20 | 60 | endemic | declining |
Kuaka | Bar-tailed Godwit | 39-41 | 275-600 | native | declining |
Tarāpunga | Red-billed Gull | 37 | 240-320 | native | declining |
Tara | White-fronted Tern | 42 | 160 | native | declining |
Tarāpuka | Black-billed gull | 35-38 | 230 | endemic | declining |
Tōrea | South Island Pied Oystercatcher | 46 | 550 | endemic | declining |
Tūturiwhatu | NZ Dotterel | 25 | 146-160 | endemic | recovering |
Kawau | Pied Shag | 65-85 | 1300-2100 | native | recovering |
Tōrea Pango | Variable Oystercatcher | 48 | 720 | endemic | recovering |
Black-fronted Dotterel | 16-18 | 30-35 | native | naturally uncommon |
Kawau Tūī | Little Black Shag | 61 | 800 | native | naturally uncommon |
Kōtuku Ngutupapa | Royal Spoonbill | 74-81 | 1400-2000 | native | naturally uncommon |
Kororo | Black-backed Gull | 60 | 1000 | native | not threatened |
Poaka | Pied Stilt | 35 | 190 | native | not threatened |
Spur-winged Plover | 38 | 350-370 | native | not threatened |
Matuku moana | White-faced Heron | 67 | 550 | native | not threatened |
Kaireka | Skylark | 18 | 38 | introduced | naturalised |
What do they look like?
These photos have mostly been published on Waikawa News before.
![NZ Dotterel on driftwood.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/nz-dotterel.jpeg)
![Banded dotterel on driftwood.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/banded-dotterel.jpeg)
![Tiny bird with white chest, black stripes, orange bill with a black tip.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/black-fronted-dotterel-00.jpeg)
![Wrybill with beak curved to the right.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/wrybill.jpeg)
![One long-beaked wading bird in the beach shallows.](https://waikawanews.micro.blog/uploads/2023/1f24918b6e.jpg)
![Juvenile and adult, large birds on the beach.](https://waikawabeach.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/black-backed-gulls-with-dredge.jpeg)
![White and grey bird with red bill.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/c0008b21af.jpg)
![Gull in the estuary with beak wide open.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/3daad651a2.jpg)
![Part of the flock of terns, with sea as backdrop.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/dbd2cbf66d.jpg)
![Two Caspian terns on the beach with sea behind.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/ebff0d4179.jpg)
![Juvenile Black-fronted Tern on the beach.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/lack-fronted-tern.jpeg)
![Two Oystercatcher chicks near an adult amongst driftwood, sand and young grasses.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/two-oystercatcher-chicks.jpeg)
![Two South island pied oystercatchers on damp sand at the edge of the sea.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/d2aba5ba37.jpg)
![Poaka | Pied Stilt stands guard on 3 juveniles.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/stilt-stands-guard.jpeg)
![Large black and white shag with wings stretched, on wet sand.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/5bb33cc181.jpg)
![Two black shags by the river.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/ccdf8bbe2e.jpg)
![Large white birds behind or beside a large piece of driftwood.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/65cefa999f.jpg)
![White-faced heron.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2024/1b57060c75.jpeg)
![Medium sized bird with dark head and back, white underparts, amongst driftwood on sand near spinifex beach grasses.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/f90a1aba3b.jpg)
![Small to medium bird high in the sky with outspread wings.](https://cdn.uploads.micro.blog/98465/2023/a844f1b7e2.jpg)