a native owl, a ruru. We used to see them regularly in our garden trees, but not so much now.
For those who like birds (and there are plenty in Waikanae), this Facebook site should appeal.
If you’re wondering why not ‘birdwatchers”, it seems that birding denotes more knowledge and dedication: “birdwatchers have been described by some enthusiasts as having a more limited scope, perhaps not venturing far from their own yards or local parks to view birds” according to Wikipedia.