A nide of 5 pheasant chicks wandered around in the rain by my window this morning. Here are two of the well-grown chicks. 🐦

I uploaded these two photos and asked Claude to identify both birds above, like this: identify this bird seen eating flax seeds in Waikawa Beach, Horowhenua, New Zealand. 🐦

I had my suspicions and they were confirmed when Claude replied:

This appears to be a chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), specifically a male chaffinch based on its coloration. The bird has:

• A pinkish-orange/buff breast and face
• A bluish-gray head cap
• A distinctive perched posture on what looks like a dried flax seed pod or similar plant

Chaffinches are common in New Zealand, though they're not native - they were introduced from Europe in the 1860s. They're known to feed on seeds, including flax seeds, which aligns with your observation at Waikawa Beach in the Horowhenua region.

The setting of dried seed heads against the blurred green background is typical of New Zealand coastal and wetland areas where flax plants (harakeke) are common.

And for the second:

This appears to be a greenfinch (Chloris chloris), another introduced species in New Zealand. You can identify it by:

• Its predominantly yellow-green plumage
• Compact, finch-like body structure
• The positioning on the dried flax seed head (harakeke)

Greenfinches were introduced to New Zealand from Europe in the 1860s and have become well-established throughout the country. They particularly favor seeds, including those from flax plants, which explains why you've observed it feeding at Waikawa Beach.

Like the chaffinch in your previous image, this bird is taking advantage of the abundant seed resources provided by native New Zealand flax plants, despite being a non-native species itself. Greenfinches have strong beaks well-adapted for cracking open seeds.

Such an interesting 9 minute video: Successful season for rare New Zealand fairy tern! 🐦 :

Follow along as we incubate, hatch and hand-rear tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern) for release into the wild. First, they head to a purpose-built predator-proof area on the beach. It’s here that the chicks perfect their flying and fishing skills before joining the wild population.

Tara iti are Aotearoa New Zealand’s most endangered bird as there are just 35 adults existing today. Every successful chick that reaches breeding age is a massive win for the future of the species.

This morning I pulled a fresh T-shirt from the drawer. I don't generally have black clothes so I expected this to be my Presentation Zen T-shirt.

It was not. It was a black T-shirt with a white heron on the front. 🐦

Perhaps someone gave me this? I didn't recall I had it …

On this morning's rather brief walk I spotted a Royal Spoonbill at the lake, then two more, with a Dotterel, at the beach. 🐦

Also at the beach were a small flock of White-fronted Terns (only a few of them in this photo — I liked that group of four) and a Pied Stilt with unusual black eye patch.

This morning's dawn beach walk netted me a Matuku moana | White-faced heron. 🐦

And just like on this day, 06 March 2023, a Ngutuparore | Wrybill. Note how the bill curves to the bird's right.

As I lay awake in the middle of the night I wondered if animals suffer from insomnia. Is there some little bird out there, clinging to her perch, worrying about whether she'll find enough food come daylight? How will she survive the next storm? How are her babies coping? 🐦

Then I went back to sleep.

Every day at this time of year a few Warou | Welcome swallows hang out on the deck railing. I'll miss them when we move. 🐦

Yesterday I spotted a Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher on a flax spear near the house. 🐦

I haven't seen the kingfisher so much lately and this one looks like it's maybe a juvenile.

At dawn there were a few gulls and Oystercatchers at the sea edge. Up in the dunes the tiny clump of yucca are flowering. 🐦

My theory is that several years ago someone who thinks of the beach as a convenient dumping ground for garden waste included yucca offcuts and they've now taken root.

A few days ago I took this photo of a Pohowera | Banded dotterel. 🐦

There have been too few bird photos on my blog lately.

Every day Warou | Welcome swallows come and sit on the railing outside our lounge and watch what I think of as Swallow TV, starring Miraz and Deb. It's lovely! 🐦

Here was one, this morning.

DOC 'cautiously optimistic' for New Zealand's rarest bird, the fairy tern | RNZ News 🐦 :

With fewer than 40 tara iti left, every nest, egg, and chick was critical to the survival of the species. …

Tara iti bred at only four locations in New Zealand … [including] the Waipū and Mangawhai sandspits in Northland.

Waipū and Mangawhai are just a few kilometres away from our new home at Ruakākā.

The Kuaka | Godwits were resting or feeding near the Terns. 🐦

I don't visit the beach quite as much at the moment, but this morning's trip brought Caspian Terns, White-fronted Terns and a Gull hanging out with them. 🐦

We had an unexpected visitor this morning when maybe a juvenile Pīwakawaka | Fantail flew into the house but didn't manage to fly out again.

Luckily I caught it in the corner of the kitchen and took it back out into the great outdoors. 🐦

It's possible this is one of this year's baby swallows, sitting on our deck railing, having a chat. 🐦

Who knows whether they're coming or going? NZ Dotterels on the move. 🐦

When I checked the swallow nest above the zendo door all the little warm bodies were gone, but this tiny egg was alone in the nest. 🐦

Baby swallow photo, with added baby swallow. 😆 🐦

For some reason I don't so often post photos of the Australian coots on the wee lake down the road. Rectifying … 🐦

OK, compose the picture of the baby swallow on the zendo roof, carefully and slowly depress the shutt…

Gone! 🐦

Thrilled that there were 3 little Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel chicks hooning round on the beach this morning. This one was watching me carefully. 🐦

Not sure about this, but I think the Spur-winged Plovers that hang around the beach have also reared chicks. The one closest to the camera looks smaller than the other two. 🐦

You may have to look very closely at these photos to make them out. Above the zendo door is a mud bowl swallow nest. Yesterday when I touched my fingers inside the nest I could feel warm bodies. There was no squeaking though.

The camera angle is tricky, with no room to manoeuvre. Baby swallows. 🐦