Down by the Waiorongomai Stream mouth at dawn on 06 March 2022 were a couple of Taranui | Caspian terns:
A very large heavily built tern, silver-grey above and white below, with dark wing tips, a large pointed bright red bill with dark tip, a relatively short slightly forked tail.
Length: 50 cm; Weight: 700 g.
There is little evidence of Caspian terns in coastal deposits of subfossil bones in New Zealand, indicating that they may have colonised recently or had a very restricted distribution here until the early 20th century. Although widespread now, Caspian terns remain uncommon in New Zealand, with around 1300–1400 breeding pairs estimated.
