Pied Stilt …..

….. ….. ….. in the Lake Hayes wetlands this morning.
This pied stilt was happily feeding, whereas the one the other day was trying to get us away from the area, with high pitched shrieks. It was successful! They’re such dainty birds. Its Māori name is poaka.
I love seeing the scaup babies with their fluffy red heads.

The pied stilt is not endemic to New Zealand, however it is naturalised. Believed to have arrived in New Zealand in the early 1800s, it is often seen with other wading birds.

A chilly breeze kept the heat down this morning but the cooler temperature over night makes sleeping easier!