This was only the second record for Emperor Penguins on the NZ mainland (the other the bottom of the South Island).  This bird was clearly a long way off course, disoriented, and a little sick.  Overheating in the waters of the Kapiti coast (compared to its usual haunt in the Antarctic) it was eating sand, following the practice of eating snow in the Antarctic to cool down.  It wasn’t helping.  The bird turned up clearly distressed on Peka peka beach.  A day later it was taken to Wellington zoo animal hospital, and ultimately released back in to subantarctic waters with a GPS tracker that ceased working soon after release, so we don’t know what happened to “happy feet”.  There is still a sign on Peka peka beach commemorating this unusual appearance.

Antarctic Fulmars range up to Kaikoura in the winter, but would not normally be seen round Wellington.  This one ended up in bird rescue in Wanganui.  It made a good recovery and was released by Peter Frost from our boat on the way to Mana Island.  It sat on the water for a short while before flying off.

Despite being quite common across New Zealand in summer, these pretty little birds are hard to see and photograph.  I got good views of this one which was with two other Shining Cuckoos in Belmont Regional park (Stratton Street entrance) one summer.