(Predator) White-fronted Tern observation: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/231566871
Second photo shows comparison with Southern Buller's. Darker head stands out from afar along with subtle differences in the face and bill.
A rather lucky find for Coopers Lagoon! My first time seeing a Kotuku there.
Was briefly joined by a Pied Stilt.
Woohoo! An awesome sighting for Coopers Lagoon!
Was hanging around with Pied Stilts, and eventually flew off.
I spotted a beached-wrecked bird carcass while patrolling Muriwai Beach. My friend, Ariel Wijaya, who I was walking with when I spotted the bird, then delivered it to Ian Mclean of Birds of New Zealand. Photos were taken and reviewed, and the general consensus was Little Bronze Cuckoo. Small, reddish-brownish bird, with rufous, black, and white undertail coverts. The bird is currently at the Auckland Museum and will be prepared as a specimen. This bird is native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. New record for New Zealand.
Stoked with this one! We had just started driving out of Awarua Bay on our second and final day searching for New Zealand Dotterels with no luck. We decided to stop on the drive back as there were quite a few birds around, and there happened to be two SNZD feeding together!
With @benackerley. Pair living around the valley.
Continuing bird. Great birding this morning with @islandnaturespotter
Continuing bird, seen with @benackerley
Under rock on the beach (at the stone/coastal vegetation border)
1st image focus stacked.
Continuing vagrant for this location
Thanks so much to @samuelamaris for letting me use his camera for a record shot! (Dont have a camera atm)
Seen with Noah Fenwick (@noahfenwick ), Ben Ackerley (@benackerley ) and Christian Cosgrove (@kakarikinz )