Photos of Rare birds

Photos of rare birds I have seen in NZ

	Little Tern - Foxton Beach, 6 March 2010. Roosting on the edge of a large flock (300 - 400) of White Fronted Terns. There were also several juvenile Black Fronted Terns hanging around.
	Yellowhead - Ulva Island, 26 February 2010. There is a small population of about 70 Yellowheads on Ulva island, accessible by water taxi from Oban on Stewart Island. They still take a bit of finding on the island, but can be located by their pretty song.
	Antarctic Fulmar - off Mana Island, 6 December 2009. A bit of a cheat because we released this bird from the boat! The colder seas brought a number of Antarctic Fulmars north this year, and this particular bird spent a couple of nights in bird rescue before we released it back to the wild.
	Cresten Pigeon - Christchurch 15 November 2009. Probably cage escapes (or intentional release from a pigeon enthusiast), there now seems to be a few breeding pairs in the Gardiner's Road area. These birds are common in Australia but not found in NZ.
	Fairy Tern - one of only 42 birds in existence, probably one of the rarest birds in the world. Mangawhai Spit 8 November 2009. The sand dunes where these birds breed are protected.
	NZ Storm Petrel - Hauraki Gulf 7 November 2009 (boat trip with Pterodrama Pelagics). We saw 7 NZ Storm Petrel during the 10 hour boat trip from Leigh to the Mokohinau Rocks and back. Once thought to be extinct, these birds were rediscovered in the 1990's and small numbers are now often found in the Hauraki gulf. The population and breeding location for these birds is still unknown.
	Chestnut Teal - Otaki Oxidation ponds, 11 July 2009. A male in eclipse plumage, with a Grey Teal behind showing the difference in colouration. This bird was first seen at the Otaki Oxidation ponds mid June 2009. May be a hybrid Chestnut / Grey Teal, but the birds does show aspects of green on the head and white rump band.
	Black Bellied Storm Petrel - about 20 km off the Kaikoura coast, seen during an Oceanwings Pelagic tour, 30 May 2009. This was the first time a Black Bellied Storm Petrel had been seen off the Kaikoura coast. (Other birders on the boat got a view of the underbelly of the bird and were able to confirm that it was indeed a Black Bellied Storm Petrel).
	Black Stilt - Ashley River mouth, 31 May 2009. Alongside Caspian Tern and a Pied Stilt. This particular bird may be paired with a Pied Stilt. Current estimates are that there are only about 78 Black Stilt in the wild (about 25 pairs in captivity), but Ashley River mouth north of Christchurch is a fairly good spot to see them in winter.
	Blue Duck - Ruatiti Domain near Raetihi, 14 March 2009. This is a new adult and hasn't yet been banded. There are about 800 pairs of the unusual Blue Duck, which lives in fast flowing rivers.
	King Shag - Marlborough Sounds, 17 January 2009, on a boat trip with Dolphin Watch Ecotours to Motuara Island. It is estimated that there are only about 600 King Shag. This bird was on a small rock outcrop with about a dozen Spotted Shag.
	Red Legged Partridge - a pair of these birds seen at Pirongia in the Waikato, 3 January 2009.
	Kookaburra - seen at Wainui near Orewa on 31 December 2008. These birds are found in Northland between Orewa and Whangarei, but are difficult to spot (thanks to Suzi for providing me with directions).
	Cockatiel - a pair of female Cockatiel in the wild on Tiritiri Matangi between Pohutakawa Bay and Fisherman's Bay, on 1 January 2009. Almost certainly cage escapees from somewhere in the Auckland region - otherwise this is the first NZ record for vagrants from Australia! The birds were very tame, allowing me to walk within a few metres of them.
	Blanche the Albino Variable Oystercatcher - seen at Kawakawa Bay on 28 December 2008. This bird is about a year old and has been observed in the South Auckland region from birth. It now is often seen on Big Sand Island in the Kaipara Harbour.
	Glossy Ibis - (27 October 2008) this is from Blenheim, the oxidation ponds at the end of Hardings Road near carpark for the Wairau lagoons walk. This one has been there for a year or two, and seems to have an injured leg which is perhaps preventing it from returning to Australia.
	Hybrid Pied Stilt - Turakina River mouth, 30 August 2008 (near a typical Pied Stilt in the forground for comparison).
	Nankeen Night Heron - Whanganui River, 30 August 2008. This very rare and elusive native only appears briefly at dusk. Thanks to the local OSNZ experts I was shown the roosting location. Nine birds flew off at dusk. It is thought that 30 - 50 birds breed along the Whanganui river.
	Grey Plover - Manawatu Estuary, 22 March 2008. On the left, next to a Pacific Golden Plover which is coming in to breeding plumage. This doesn't look much like a Grey Plover, but I have it on good authority (Sav!) that it is (identified by wing patterns when flying). Its plumage is undergoing change and it doesn't look that healthy.
	Curlew Sandpiper - Manawatu Estuary, 22 March 2008. Next to a Sharp Tailed Sandpiper in amongst a group of 20 - 30 Wrybills. Thanks to Sav for pointing this out (I initially thought it was a Juvenile Banded Dotterel). Sorry the bill can't be seen in this photo.
	Common Tern (which is very uncommon in New Zealand) - Manawatu Estuary, 22 March 2008. Associating with White Fronted Terns, the Common Tern has a prominent black area on top of wing, black wing/tail feathers, and noticabley different gait when walking (seemed slightly out of place with the other Terns). Thanks to Sav again for pointing this out to me - I would never have identified it without some assistance.
	Shore Plover - Waikanae Estuary, August 2008. Shore Plovers are breeding on Mana Island (population of around 30 birds), and in winter they go wandering up and down the coast. This one was at Waikanae Estuary for several months (June - August). Note the bands on the legs. I have also seen the same bird at Foxton Estuary.
	Pectoral Sandpiper - a pair on Pukepuke Lagoon, 21 March 2008. (Thanks to Sav for confirming identification - they are very similar to Sharp Tailed Sandpiper).