In the North Island a black-form fantail is very rare, a little more common in the South Island. One has been at Gordon Park, near Whanganui, for several years but just last week, after a tip off from another birder, I again connected with it. The bird put on a good show for me and allowed a good series of photographs. Great to have this bird so close to home, and so accessible.
On a subsequent visit to Gordon Park we found two black fantails, together as a pair, quite amazing, considering how rare they are in the North Island.
