On a walk along Ngatiawa Road recently, the incessant chorus of ever-present Cicadas was suddenly interrupted by shrill shrieks. Two birds circled the adjacent field and landed in the goat grazing paddock. They were standing at quite a distance, but luckily, I was able to snap this picture, so as to be able to identify the creature in the bird book.
Considering the distinct facial appearance, we were able to make a positive ID. A Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus miles) of the Order Charadriiformes and Family Charadriidae
The description of the bird reads: The spur-winged plover is a large stocky wader with pronounced yellow bill and wattles, and yellow eye ring. Black on the crown and hind neck becomes a black collar extending to sides of the breast. The rest of the head, neck and under parts are white, the mantle, back and coverts are uniform light grey-brown contrasting with a white rump. The black tail has a white base and thin white tip. The long legs are reddish brown. A long yellow spur protruding from the carpal area of each wing gives the species its name. The flight pattern of the spur-winged plover - shallow beats of broad rounded wings - is unlike any other New Zealand wader.
Voice: a shrill staccato rattle – often heard at night.
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