Gulp!

Up for an early walk along the boardwalk which was nice, though a little damp and distinctly cool.  Met up with K & C and we shared some time fernbird hunting.  Fernbirds have become quite the trophy bird for me for some reason........the challenge maybe.  Anyway, mixed success....some not too bad, some that got away.  I headed back to the van around 8.30 saying farewell to K & C and wishing them a safe journey back to Auckland.  A shower and some breakfast and a little tootying and wouldn't you know it......a few hours later and the sun was out and doing its thing.  A knock on my door was unusual then I saw it was the camp host Paul (who turns out to be from Nelson!).  He asked me if I was aware a white heron was wandering around the campground...??!   No, I was not!  I grabbed my camera and together we stalked the stalker.  It shuffled its way around the base of the numerous flax and other bushes then suddenly, with a swift dart in to a flax, it appeared with a bird in its beak.  Wow!  I could hardly believe its speed and accuracy.  Fortunately I had my camera trained on it so was able to capture the sequence.  In no time at all the bird had been gulped down and he nonchalantly carried on his stalking for more food around the campground.  We've looked at the pics and can't decide what kind of bird it was.  Initially I thought blackbird and Paul thought sparrow.  The pics clearly show a speckled back and orange legs so we're really not too sure.  Hoping it wasn't one of my trophy birds though...... though there is another one in extras!!