BirdingNZ.net

I'm plumping for Australian Little Grebe for this bird. Compared to Hoary-headed it has the cap at mid-eye, buffy flanks, etc. It is noticeably smaller than the NZ Dabchicks when seen alongside them. It also just "feels" like an Australian Little Grebe when watching it.

However I am troubled by the eye colour, which is reddish-brown instead of yellow. In a couple of photos above the eye looks paler (sort of yellowy-brown) but when watching it in life that seemed to be just the light - most of the time the eyes just looked reddish-brown. Maybe it is an individual variation thing.

Worth noting is that Eurasian Little Grebe has brown eyes (except the mainland SE Asia race poggei in which they are pale yellow), as does I think tricolor of the Indonesian archipelago.

Here are a couple of photos of the grebe around lunchtime today, as it was being harassed a bit by a pair of dabchicks.

A few more photos that I took earlier today - Good to see it is still there.

Confirming the Little Grebe is still there, southern edge of southern pond (right of the hide), Sunday afternoon.

It was still in the same place this evening (& was chased away a short distance by a dabchick that it swam up to).

Called in at Pharazyn reserve today and the Australasian Little Grebe is still there

This bird has relocated down the road to Pekapeka Beach, was sitting in the first pond on the left this evening as you go down Pingao Lane.

Has it been seen recently?