One of the wonderful features of life in the high country is experiencing the seasonal comings and goings of birdlife. Black-fronted terns are endemic to New Zealand and it is estimated that their numbers total only about 5,000 in the whole of the country. In springtime these terns migrate inland to the braided riverbeds of the South Island and can be found in abundance in the Lake Stream and near Lake Heron. In summer they can be seen swooping and diving into the wind along the riverbanks in search of food. In this shot an adult bird has caught a skink – looks to be rather a large meal for a small bird.
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