BLACK-BILLED GULLS, MIRANDA SHOREBIRD CENTRE, POKENO, NEW ZEALAND, 10/28/2017

   We can ID this gull as a Black-billed Gull by its long black bill; white head, neck, tail and underparts; grey wings and back legs. The Black-backed gull is endemic to New Zealand. 

   In addition to the Black-backed Gulls, there are two terns in the upper left of the photo.  These are White-fronted Terns.

   The Black-backed Gull is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 731.

PUKEKO OR AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN, GOLF COURSE, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

   This swamphen is an Australasian Swamphen,  but in New Zealand it is known as the Pukeko, a term derived from the Maori language. 

SPUR-WINGED PLOVER(MASKED LAPWING) & SONG THRUSH, GOLF COURSE, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND GREY FANTAIL, WAITAKERE RANGES REGIONAL PARK, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

   We can ID this bird as North Island subspecies  of the New Zealand Grey Fantail by its location on the North Island and

long fanned out tail with white outer feathers and dark center feathers  (you can see this in the second photo).  Also, the fantail is yellowish below. 

   The New Zealand Grey Fantail is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 730.

MALE CALIFORNIA QUAIL, WAITAKERE RANGES REGIONAL PARK, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

   We can ID this bird as a male California Quail by its chestnut crown with a black forward-curved plume, white band above eye and around forehead, black chin and throat and throat encircled by white band running from eye to eye.  Also, the nape is grey speckled with white,  the breast is grey and the belly is buff and white with black scalloping.

   The California Quail is native to North America and was introduced to New Zealand from 1860's onward. 

   The California Quail is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 729.

FEMALE CHAFFINCH, MURIWAI REGIONAL PARK, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

   We can ID this bird as a female  Chaffinch by its head and most of the upperparts being different shades of grey-brown, paler underparts and prominent white wing bars. 

   The Chaffinch is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 728.