Plover ends rare visit

Wairarapa's lone wild shore plover has gone walkabout after at least two-week stay on our shores.
The little plover has flown Cook Strait and has been spotted at Golden Bay in the northwest corner of the South Island.
Department of Conservation staff have confirmed the plover seen at Golden Bay on October 7 was definitely the same bird discovered near Cape Palliser on September 22.
Its Wairarapa visit was the first known visit by a shore plover to the Wairarapa coast in 100 years, as the small population of wild shore plovers is almost exclusively confined to offshore islands.
The female plover had been domiciled on Mana Island before deciding to emigrate to Wairarapa where it was spotted by Forest and Bird field officer Aalbert Rebergen.
Mr Rebergen had hoped the bird would entice a mate to also visit and to set up "shop" together ensuring a population of the rare birds in coastal Wairarapa, but this was apparently not on her agenda.
The bird can be positively identified by its leg bands by those with sufficient expertise to identify plovers.
On hearing news of its South Island arrival Mr Rebergen said the little plover had pulled off quite an amazing feat by "crossing the ditch".
Mana Island conservation staff suspect she will eventually decide to return to the island.