White-fronted terns/tara - sometimes seen on Petone Beach

Louise from Woburn

White-fronted terns/tara (Sterna striata) are not a particularly common sight on Petone Beach, but you can see them en masse a few times a year. They are fairly noisy energetic birds, as many seabirds are. They have a distinctive black cap, which is more pronounced during breeding season among the adults, younger birds are more mottled with quite pronounced striations on their backs. Despite living in a crowd, they like to keep the same partners from one season to the next. The male courts his mate by bringing her little fish gifts - it is actually very lovely to see. These shots were taken down the far Western end on the beach, past the dog exercise area, the second one is a juvenile asking Mum for food.