Favoritos de ratite

I've never observed an owl close-up like this before, it was amazing!

ID-wise, I believe the brown band across the top of the breast is diagnostic for this species. Also the rich buff areas and white arrowheads on the wings. Happy to get input from others with more experience with these birds.

I was coming back to camp after a night walk and was using starlight only (headtorch off). I turned it back on as the track got rougher, but shone it far ahead to keep some of my night vision.

The owl must have come to check me out and it flew over my head and into a tree on the side of the track. Allowed me to come within 3 metres and stayed for 10 minutes. Got some cool shots with my macro lens!!

Such a cool experience!

Spied this female Australasian Darterbird waving its head left and right, and when I zoomed in, I saw it had a fish speared on the end of its beak. It then proceeded to move the fish carefully around, so that it was head first and then swallowed it just moments later, before slipping back into the water.