XII. Other Birds: a mixed bag - more to come

Spur-winged plover at Miranda on the Firth of Thames, North Island
Spur-winged plover at Miranda on the Firth of Thames, North Island

Spur-winged plovers (Australia - 'Masked lapwing') are one of only two breeds of native bird (the other being the southern black-backed gull) that are so numerous as to be afforded no legal protection.

 

Since the 1930s they have rapidly colonised New Zealand after arriving from Australia and are the source of complaint from brassica-growers and airports where they account for 37 per cent of bird strike incidents.

 

Their call is a grating staccato rattle not dissimilar in some ways from a European coot.

 

Although a ground nesting bird and vulnerable to the mammals that have done such damage to indigenous New Zealand birds they have faired very well. They are aggressive defenders of their territory and their evolution alongside mammals in Australia has clearly given them an advantage in New Zealand.

Rear view of Korimako/Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) on Halls Totara  the Wainui Falls Walk, Golden Bay.
Rear view of Korimako/Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) on Halls Totara the Wainui Falls Walk, Golden Bay.
Kingfisher and starling having a catch-up outside the baothouse on the Papanui Inlet
Kingfisher and starling having a catch-up outside the boathouse on the Papanui Inlet
Two southern black-backed gulls/karoro - Larus dominicanus - on Wainui Bay
Two southern black-backed gulls/karoro - Larus dominicanus - on Wainui Bay
Variable oystercatchers and reflections in pied variety at Pohara Beach.
Variable oystercatchers and reflections in pied variety at Pohara Beach.
Variable oystercatcher in pied variety at Pohara Beach.
Variable oystercatcher in pied variety at Pohara Beach.
White-faced heron on the Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay.
White-faced heron on the Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay.
Variable Oystercatcher  - Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay
Variable Oystercatcher - Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay
Bird - Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay. It looks like an introduced Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) to me.
Bird - Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay. It looks like an introduced Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) to me.
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) in a tall hebe on Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay. The hebe is probably Kokomuka/shore hebe (hebe ellipitica).
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) in a tall hebe on Taupo Head walk, Golden Bay. The hebe is probably Kokomuka/shore hebe (hebe ellipitica).
White-faced heron in a dead tree, Taupo Head Walk, Wainui Bay.
White-faced heron in a dead tree, Taupo Head Walk, Wainui Bay.
Persistent Tarapunga/Red Billed Gull (Larus novaehollandiae), Taupo Head Walk, Wainui Bay. It is New Zealand's commonest gull. Striking nontheless.
Persistent Tarapunga/Red Billed Gull (Larus novaehollandiae), Taupo Head Walk, Wainui Bay. It is New Zealand's commonest gull. Striking nontheless.
Red-legged gull, Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Red-legged gull, Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
New Zealand fantail. Immature South Island black morph.
New Zealand fantail. Immature South Island black morph.