White-winged black tern, Waituna, Southland

[sjacques]

Basic plumaged adult hawking flies on a flooded flash area just North of Waituna lagoon, now settled on a wee island.

Cheers,
Sean

[sjacques]

Showing very well yesterday afternoon, to the extent that even I managed some passable smudgers. Gorgeous birds in any plumage, interesting to note here the moult step in the flight feathers where the fresh inner primaries are growing in.

It's chosen habitat is a rather sumptuous flooded paddock with a mix of unvegetated edges, emergent rushes and little islands. Hoaching with pied stilts and grey teal yesterday; a potentially rewarding spot to keep an eye on and easily viewed from the minor road immediately to South.

Cheers,
Sean

[FraserGurney]

There were two white-winged black terns at Waituna today. Both were roosting with black-fronted terns out on islands in the lagoon and were making foraging flights around the general area. Viewable from right by the car park.

[Oscar Thomas]

One bird seen well on the lagoon today, very active and worth the wet feet for some photos: https://ebird.org/atlasnz/checklist/S129654582

[bradley_birdsnz]

White winged tern present again this arvo. Showing very well with black fronted terns and a lone Caspian tern.

Cheers, Bradley