I glimpsed this juvenile Kōtare, Sacred Kingfisher through the window, managed a couple of shots and then it took off. I love my 100–400 zoom camera lens. 🐦

It’s been a busy Sunday. Among other things, I cleaned out the old straw and sawdust from the quail run and topped up with a fresh coating. The quail were pretty stressed by the activity, but seem happy now, especially since they got an extra helping of dried mealworms. 🐦

Seen at the beach this morning: a juvenile Spoonbill with its parents. 🐦

When I didn’t leave quickly enough one of the adult swans warned me off. I left. 🐦

I think this little fantail lives in the bushes near our gate. 🐦

No-one on the lake was very happy about me emerging from behind a bush to take an iPhone photo of the two black swans and their remaining 3 cygnets. 🐦

At last! Eastern Rosellas have been taunting me. I’ve heard their chattering at various times recently, then they’d shoot past and my camera was nowhere nearby. Today though, one perched outside my window and my one press of the shutter before it flew away actually worked. 🐦

Toutouwai, North Island Robin at Bushy Park. These little birds are such cuties, and so tame! 🐦

The Tīrairaka, New Zealand fantail is a tricky bird to photograph and I’m still on a quest to get excellent photos. It flitters and flutters and is so fast! 🐦

I was trying to take photos of the elusive fantails who were flittering just outside the window. What I did get were these European Goldfinches, with their bright scarlet faces. 🐦

Striding. 🐦

Skating! This little New Zealand dotterel turns out to be banded, when I zoom in. They’re very small, fast birds: 25 cm and about 150 grams. Perfect on the beach: dark upper and white below so you think you’re just seeing shells on sand — till it moves. 🐦

Naughty little House sparrows sitting on the roof (pooping in the gutter that supplies our drinking water). 🐦

Update: the photo I exported at Medium resolution looked terrible. I’ve replaced it with a better version.

Meanwhile, the Australian coots were having a bit of a dust-up (volume up). 🐦

To my delight, this morning’s walk brought me two Kakīānau, Black swans with 4 cygnets, already swimming. 🐦

Touching. Pied Stilt. 🐦

This Karoro, Black-backed gull was keeping a close eye on me this morning. 🐦

Pukeko at the lake. 🐦

Looked out the front door and spotted these two young pheasants moseying about. 🐦 They scurried off when they saw me though.

This is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s smallest birds, often heard but seldom seen. I got lucky a few months back. Riroriro, Grey Warbler 🐦 :

Length: 11 cm; Weight: 5.5 - 6.5 grams

Riroriro, Grey Warbler song.

Up, up, down, down. 🐦 Canada Geese, on the wing.

These ring-necked pheasants are very common round here. They’re splendid birds, but also kind of incredible. That eye belongs in a cartoon. 🐦

We see Kingfishers around here quite often — usually in the garden. I didn’t really expect to see this little one on the beach yesterday. 🐦 Kōtare, Sacred kingfisher

These Rock pigeons, although common everywhere, are actually not that easy to find at Waikawa Beach. 🐦 I first spotted them a few months ago, but it was only yesterday things came together for a quick photo of one. It flew away immediately. 😒

These two annoyingly distant Spur-winged Plovers were at the beach this morning. I’ve been wanting to get photos of them, but am a bit disappointed with the results. 🐦