Red-billed gull chick
Photo by Vandy Pollard
First time spotting a Red-billed gull chick on the South Coast. It’s parents certainly aren’t as protective as the Oyster Catchers. Red-billed Gulls are native to Aotearoa New Zealand and in spite of being our commonest gull on the coast, have a conservation status of declining. I watched this chick for about an hour from 20 metres on a rock outcrop and only one parent appeared to be present - not paying it much attention.