Friday, November 5, 2010

Purple Swamphen also Pukeko dekko

 Plenty of Purple Swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) in many parts of Australia. And - as Pukeko - in New Zealand. But there's just been this one in Tyto for months. Doesn't show itself every day, and rarely so close to the hide (above).


Elsewhere, found this bird daintily stripping seeds from roadside grasses close to a pair of small lagoons surrounded by sugar cane. Sorry about the tight full frame image: bird wouldn't move far enough away from the car!
Click pix to enlarge    
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3 comments:

  1. SnailNovember 6, 2010 at 1:03 AM

    Are they always uncommon at Tyto? You can have some of ours!

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  2. mickNovember 6, 2010 at 5:12 AM

    Pukeko sounds fine to me! Early teaching is hard to change :-) I really like the head poking out of the grasses.

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  3. Tyto TonyNovember 6, 2010 at 4:10 PM

    Hi Bronwen: Yep.Don't think they really find much to like in scleria. Giant taro more the go. Though most have also quit even favoured haunts around Ingham over past few months.

    Hi Mick: Tis one of my hobby horses: NZ has few birds, but many have fine Maori names: OZ got lots birds, remarkably few native names.

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