Pinky the scaup

Photographed 15/7/11 at Westlake-Halswell- Christchurch a scaup with a distinctive pink bill- is it a partial albino, or possible result of hybridization ?.In 30 years of birding I have never seen a scaup that looks like this with such a pronounced pink bill-

Second gull-billed tern at Lake Ellesmere-

Selwyn River mouth today ( 7/7/2011) - note different cap from birdb photographed on 5/7/2011 nearby at Wolfes Road

top birding spot- Wolfes road

Hi all- map shows a top birding site. Some big puddles on Wolfes road at moment but ok with a standard wheel if care taken. Park near hut (DOC access sign) and walk straight down to wood hut and out onto a peninsula- quite a few terns and black-billed gulls are at this site at the moment. Bittern are a possibility on the ponds with reeds. One of my favourite birding spots at Lake Ellesmere.

map courtesy of MapToaster/Geosystems-Chch.

Click on map to enlarge

Mystery tern

Gull billed tern

Tern photos-Little tern at Wolfes Road- Lake ellesmere today

the smallest tern species recorded from NZ waters

Rgds
Peter