Star tern among the flock

Roger Smith was lucky enough to spot this rare tern among a flock of about 1000 white-fronted terns in the Waikanae River mouth vicinity.

“It was like finding a needle in a haystack!

“This one is a white-winged black tern — one of about five or six in New Zealand at any one time.

“My sighting excited the birding community, and already there have been enthusiasts from around the area all keen to see it.”