Change of plan

The Caspian Tern; not me. After spreading its wings and looking about to fly off, it refolded them, and this photo records the folding. A minute later, without warning, it flew off. Spooked by the alarmed calls of the oystercatchers.

Sterna caspia, known before Pakeha arrived as Taranui, is described in my book as being an uncommon native. More usually seen in the south of North Island and the north eastern coast of South Island, one or two can usually be seen at Snells Beach. This one (in non breeding plumage) was on its own amongst a flock of variable oystercatchers. A short distance away on their own slightly separate rock, were the white fronted terns (Tara), which are abundant. The only other birds I saw on a walk along the water's edge shortly before high tide this evening, were a few gulls and also ducks.

S and I came north for the night to check on the garden and enjoy the peace. I spent the morning with Jesafly being her back up support while she went through the process of buying a car. She needs one for her site visits, and the old Pulsar she inherited (if you can call it that) from S has about given up. If it hasn't she has!

My apologies to everyone for my absence from your journals for the last ten days or more. Council agenda to read, at the same time as preparing for an interesting Court case, and being busy during the day and needing to do little in the evenings. Hope to remedy this over the next week.