A Cirl Bunting is an uncommon bird in NZ, mostly found along eastern South Island, from Marlborough to Christchurch. I have attempted numerous times to photograph them at Kaikoura, and although I have pictures of them, the birds were always distant. Hearing about a pair that seemed settled at Moa Point, Wellington, I decided to go for them. We decided to stay the night, so to have the chance of looking in the evening, and if unsuccessful, the following morning also. After two hours in the evening, I had to give up, although I had seen them in the distance flying away from me. Next morning after three hours I got lucky, and as the sun came out, so did the birds. What a thrill, after so many years of chasing them, to now having good pictures of both male and female.
