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The results of a combined Wildlife Service/OSNZ visit to Farewell Spit, the northwestern point of the South Island, from 7 to 14 March 1974 are given. The objects were (a) to make an accurate count of the main waders, (b) to see what rare species were present and in what numbers and (c) to make an accurate count of black swan.

A list of 95 species, including past records with their appropriate references, is given. New records are Canada goose (1), paradise duck (15), large sand dotterel (4), lesser yellowlegs (1) and rock pigeon (1). Counts for waders were: South Island pied oystercatcher, 8619 and 7407; variable oystercatcher, 74 black; golden plover, 16, 15, 14; NZ dotterel, 8; banded dotterel, 1134 and 1624; Mongolian dotterel, 4; large sand dotterel, 4; wrybill, 1; curlew, 22; Asiatic whimbrel, 23; little whimbrel, 1; bar-tailed godwit, 13492 and 12215; lesser yellowlegs, 1; greenshank, 2; turnstone, 1334 and 1879; knot, 18700 and 16143; sharp-tailed sandpiper, 5; curlew sandpiper, 3; red-necked stint, 28; sanderling, 2 and pied stilt, 20. The count of black swan on 12 March 1974 was 13678.