Black-fronted tern on the Ashley Rakahuri River
Photo: Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group
Birdwatchers are still marvelling at the unexpected sighting of a black-fronted tern, which was seen in late June in Newcastle, in the New South Wales Hunter region.
The NSW Woodland Bird Program manager at Birdlife Australia, Mick Roderick, said it was an incredible discovery because the tern was endemic to New Zealand.
"It's a mind-blowing sighting that we're still trying to make sense of," he said.
"I've also been in touch with New Zealand researchers, and they're all very excited about it too.
"This is a bird nobody expected to see in Australia. It's a New Zealand breeding endemic. It has taken everyone by surprise.