Miraz Jordan

It's Warou | Welcome swallow time of year. We have to be careful about leaving the garage door open or they start building nests of mud in there. 🐦

Here they are on the roof of the zendo. Such bright orange and shiny black!

Kāhu | Hawk in flight. 🐦

In August 2022 I spotted a Kererū at Waikawa Beach for the first time. This year there are two! I only managed a photo of one. 🐦

There are quite a few Red-vented Bulbul around the resort. They behave like sparrows, popping into the dining fale to check for crumbs. 🐦 🇼🇸

These birds seem common around the resort. I believe this is a Miti Tai | Polynesian Triller. 🐦 🇼🇸

A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a short stubby head … black crown, eye-stripe, back, and tail with a prominent white eyebrow, wide white wingbar, and white underside often barred brown or gray. Female is similar, but rusty-brown

This little Ve'a | Buff-banded Rail potters around on the grass at our Resort. It seems like a smaller version of a NZ Weka. 🐦

The gardens here are lush and I've seen other birds flying around. Making the most of a post-breakfast laze though. 🇼🇸

Last year the Blackbird couldn’t figure out how to get at the feeder. This year’s another story. 🐦

The birds queue up to let me know it’s dinner time! 🐦

There is also some grumpiness about the throng at the feeder.

Others, like this Waxeye, wait patiently.

This morning Tiu | House Sparrows are enjoying hanging out on the dead panicles of the Tī kōuka | Cabbage tree only a couple of metres from my bedroom window. 🐦

Apparently when a Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher hangs around I am compelled to take photos of it. 🐦

Their beaks fascinate me.

We have several Barbary doves that hang around our place. This one by our gate was calling to another in a tree across the lane. 🐦

Blackbird. 🐦

I’ve been promising Fliss, the Japanese Quail, for ages that I’d clean out her run. Today was finally the day. I popped her in the glass recycling bin while I did the work. 🐦

Before: old stale straw, pine shavings.

After: deep, clean fresh straw, pine shavings and fresh branches for cover.

It pays to look up. Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher in a neighbour’s tree. 🐦

On today's beach walk I saw a large mussel shell and a couple of oystercatchers. 🐦

This is a very heartening good news story. Take a moment to read this non-fiction comic by Toby Morris : The Side Eye: Anahera, our neighbour. 🐦

Note: Kiwi is a Māori word. There are very few specific plural forms in Māori, and definitely no plural ’s'.

Nope. No Kuaka | Godwits round here. Nope. 🐦

Late afternoon and I was just walking from one room to another when I noticed these (perhaps juvenile) Eastern Rosellas on the flax plants nearby. I love their bright colours. Photographed through the window. 🐦

There's always one who's late to the meeting… Pāpango | New Zealand scaup on Lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦

Pukeko at the edge of Lake Puna o te Ora. 🐦

When I was on the beach yesterday 3 Kakīānau | Black swan flew in and landed on the estuary. Here are two, with a Karoro | Black-backed gull in the background. 🐦

I struck a lucky shaft of rising sunlight at the estuary this morning, with this Poaka | Pied Stilt. 🐦

It's been a while since I've posted a photo of Fliss, my one remaining Japanese Quail. 🐦

Today had a visit from our favourite Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher. 🐦

A couple of photos from the other day of one of my favourites: the Tūturiwhatu | New Zealand dotterel. On close inspection, I see this one has a yellow band high on its right leg. 🐦

These little Tūturiwhatu are only about 25 cm vs 37 for a gull or 15 for a sparrow.