McGregor Bay Wetland Society

07/01/2025

At the northern end of McGregor Bay wetland there is Julie’s place which is adjacent to the reserve. What was once a boggy and small marginal sheep paddock has been transformed into a little hub of wildlife. Julie has planted appropriate wetland specie plants in the freshwater areas (swamp flax this year attracting numerous tui) and she delights at the estuarine species coming back on their own accord. In this pocket of the wetland, there were pateke in the reeds. Unlike paradise ducks who are seen in paddocks, these little natives prefer to remain on the water. Kotare were also fishing in this area. A kotare was snacking on what looked like estuarine crabs. A harrier hawk regularly circles the area and lands in one section of the mangroves in the reserve. Also known as the ‘swamp harrier’ for these birds sometimes nest in mangroves. Although a nest in the middle of the McGregor Bay wetland hasn’t been sighted, with regular landings it is suspected.

06/01/2025

06/01/2025

With the high tides of late, there are plenty of fishing opportunities in the lagoon part of the wetland for white faced herons/matuku moana and a little s**g/ kawaupaka.
There are about 7 matuku moana that have been regularly feeding using the remaining fence posts as roosting spots as well as vantage points for fishing. Joining them on these perches is a little s**g/kawaupaka.
This s**g species has some plumage variation. Most adults are black with white cheeks and throat, a colour morph sometimes referred to as a ‘white-throated s**g’. Some have white down the chest. The bill is yellow and its feet black and has a tail that is proportionally larger than other species such as the pied s**g.
The conservation status of this species was moved from 'Not Threatened' to 'At Risk’ in 2021. The main threat to the little s**g appears to be depletion of its prey species, particularly by pollution or habitat degradation. They are decreasing in numbers around the Auckland areas. They are also vulnerable to capture in unattended set-nets. The lagoon at McGregor Bay (as well as an area by the bridge) are good safe foraging grounds for this species as they feed off small fish and crustaceans. Thus, a section of the Medlock paddock has gone from sheep to fish making it a feeding ground for ‘At Risk’ species, as well as attracting other sea and shore bird species.