On a return trip from White Island we had gone about ten kilometres when we came a cross these albatross along with other seabirds and dolphins.
Native species to the island.
'Roman helmet', large bill, small eye, huge wingspan.
Circling, following feeding of scraps from fishing boat.
obscured as on private land
The merlin app suggested this was a Cirl Bunting - but I didnt trust it..
I checked with a few folks without letting them know about the merlin ID.
I saw a passerine leave the kanuka the call was coming from and the call left at that point - but it not a clear enough view to get any diagnostics (other than that it was a bird...)
Followed where the bird went and listened around for about 30 minutes. no luck.
I think it's a Variable Oystercatcher (pied morph)? With a South Island Pied Oystercatcher.