Identificaciones de samuelamaris

Differs from Red-necked stint with brown (as opposed to grey) wing/back feathers, more scaly (similar to a pectoral/sharp-tailed sandpiper. However is the same size as a red-necked stint (small Calidris). Also has yellow legs and mottled brown breast which is are other diagnostic feature but were difficult to view from a distance, and also birds were in mud. This bird was discovered by Fraser Gurney and is the 3rd record in NZ of the species, all of which were from Lake Ellesmere. The last record was in 2000 (22 years ago).

A lone Far Eastern Curlew at Ashley Estuary on Sunday. At first I thought it a whimbrel but the extreme size of the bill (about half the length of the body) pointed me toward curlew and sharing the photo on Birding NZ helped confirm the ID. NZ Birds On Line notes that Far Eastern curlew global populations are declining and only about ten birds a season make it to New Zealand for our spring and summer. Very poor photo as this bird is extremely wary and will not allow a close approach so a heavy crop from the original photo