On one leg

This is a tuturiwhatu; the Maori name for the dotterel be it the Banded Dotterel (which is an abundant endemic) or the Northern New Zealand Dotterel (described as uncommon endemic). I think this is the New Zealand Dotterel in breeding plumage, not as clear as it can become. The Banded Dotterel has two distinct bands.

Also, the New Zealand Dotterel is larger that the Banded Dotterel (25 cm high and weighing 160 gm vs 20 cm and 60 gm). This was quite a large dotterel, and it also was not fazed by me getting relatively close (it is described in my book as being tame). However, as there are thought to be fewer than 2,000 New Zealand Dotterels, and I am not expert, I have to concede that I'm not sure.

Take a look in large, and anyone who can confirm which dotterel it is please tell me. Although it moved mainly by hopping, on one occasion it put down the other leg and scuttled a metre or two.

Immediately before I started to take photos of this bird, I was watching and photographing a large tern with a bold red beak. Everything pointed towards it being a Caspian Tern (Taranui). It had a very odd swelling on its right chest. It flew alright. Other than one solitary gull, that is the total bird life seen on my mid day jog on the beach.

Today I have reorganised the study/library/storeroom. Put together another bookshelf first, and along with a similar one it has created a division between the storage area and the part where other bookshelves, books, and desk are located. I moved things around and now have a much more pleasant (less crowded) space in which to sit and work at my desk.

The desk is an old civil service desk, made from rimu (a beautiful native timber) with lots of drawers and a large top. Things I need to have. More honestly, things I like to have.