Nature put on a special treat for members of Birds New Zealand carrying out a survey in the Bay of Islands when their boat was escorted by a trio of orca.
Les Feasey, of Opua, said the group, formerly the Ornithological Society, was looking for red-billed gulls on Friday when they encountered three orca on the south side of the Black Rocks.
The huge mammals cruised slowly to the north side of the rocks before disappearing.
The survey turned up three significant breeding and roosting sites used by red-billed gulls, including one near the Hole in the Rock.
The red-billed gull, or tarapunga, is native to New Zealand and classed as nationally vulnerable.
