Purple swamphens

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heva1
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Purple swamphens

Finally, after two days stalking these birds at Beaufort lake Vic. hampered by my 'antique' (as someone described her yesterday!)and goofy dog... I managed to get a couple of shots.

Birdgirl2009
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Well done - they are hard to get close to aren't they because they always seem to move into the reeds. the breast and belly colour has come up nicely and I like the one showing the long toes

heva1
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Thanks Birdgirl, I spent two days trying to get a shot and this was taken after the camping gear and camera gear was all packed up, I just about to get in the car... and they just decided to walk right on by.....

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

Raoul
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heva you should come to W.A. you can walk right up to them and they wont budge, i suppose they grew up with humans around them.Congratulations on finally getting a few shots of them..

heva1
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Hi Raoul, really? they oblige for the camera eh? much like the kookaburras and king parrots here in the Dandenongs I guess.

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

Raoul
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Here's the only shot i have taken of one,as they are very common.

birdie
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Same in Queensland, and their relatives in NZ the pukako are everywhere where it is cold and damp!!

Sunshine Coast Queensland

heva1
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hmmm, ever think you found a gold coin and it turns out to be a rusty penny?!! Still think they are pretty:)

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

Raoul
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heva you have found a gold coin! apparently they are not so common where you are, so mate well done and yes they are a nice looking bird.

birdie
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Hi Heva

Didn't mean to lessen your enjoyment. They are indeed beautifully coloured. Back in NZ the Pukeko is depicted in many types of art forms as people love their quirky look. Maori legend tells a great story of how they came to live in the wetlands, as they were unwilling to help the God of the forest when asked along with many other beautiful flight birds to rid the forest of the insects that were destroying the trees. I am sure there are such stories from Aboriginal culture. Here is the link to the story of "how the Kiwi Lost it's Wings" if any one is interested.
http://www.kiwinewz.com/html/losewing.htm

All birds are beautiful and worth spending time with!! :)

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

heva1
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hey Raoul and Birdie, nah, you didn't lessen my enjoyment of my pics/spotting.... as if! Thanks for the link to the kiwi website, great stories. I do remember seeing them when I was in NZ, at a campsite that had steam coming up through the grass from the volcanic activity and I wondered if they ever got hot feet!

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

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