South Island Pied Oystercatcher on Norfolk Island

Today I was alerted to an oystercatcher by local bird tour operator Margaret Christian at Kingston, Norfolk Island. A single bird was feeding in open grassland among cattle and feral ducks in the area and I was able to confirm it as a South Island Pied Oystercatcher. Oystercatchers occur on the island every few years but have rarely been properly identified. It is probable most or all of them are SIPO’s given that we are much closer to New Zealand than to Australia. I’ve put some pics on my Norfolk Island Natural History blog at http://naturalnorfolk.com/wp/?p=374. Craig Doolan