Sunday, August 2, 2020

Purple Swamphen..



I saved the shot here from our visit to Herdsman Lake for Weekend Reflections. Spotted the dazzling colours of the Purple Swamphen (click link to see fabulous pic) just as it entered the water overlaid with a multitude of reflections from the surrounding paperbark trees. The tree reflections were already complex and lovely, the Purple Swamphen the jewel in the crown :) Unlike many wetland birds which have dull plumage for camouflage, the Purple Swamphen is described as 'having a resplendent purple-blue neck, breast and belly, and a gaudy, oversized bill and frontal shield, both of which are bright red, as are its beady eyes'. Not to mention the gleaming white rump! Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..



24 comments:

  1. Wonderful rippling reflections, and the Purple Swamphen is indeed a jewel. Thank you for introducing this spectacular bird.

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  2. This is a fabulous pic, Grace! I'm glad you are safe. My cousin lives near Melbourne and is quite nervous as he has some underlying conditions.

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  3. Great reflections. No birds like that here.

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  4. Great reflection, Grace. It looks like a painting.

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  5. The name doesn’t sound glamorous but the photo of the Swamphen is a beauty.

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  6. Dearest Grace,
    Wow, what an exotic this is in purple.
    When I grew up in The Netherlands we saw lots of Moorhen along the canals in the South, they have similar chicken feet then the Purple Swamphen.
    Great photo and even more so with its reflection.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  7. It has been a while since you have posted a photo where it is hard to work out what is real and what is a reflection. We have the same birds here.

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  8. I have never seen or heard of such a thing. Gorgeous.

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  9. Nothing like that in North Idaho, sure love see Australia.

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  10. With all those characteristics, I'd say that bird has a lot going for it. It is going to get noticed. The reflections in the water are really wonderful.

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  11. They kind of look like NZ Takahe - very similar colours and beaks.

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  12. Awwww, Grace, biggest smiles from here xox
    Beautiful!
    And guess! We had thick, fat summer rain this morno, yay, I got soaked! Totally! :-) It was bliss.

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  13. The reflection looks like a v.Gogh painting. Beautiful.

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  14. What a great photo Grace, it looks amost like a painting!

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  15. OMG Grace! That looks super beautiful! My first time to hear about a swamphen and I think it is very beautiful and looks like a little plumper than a duck :)

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  16. What a beautiful reflection! It reminds me of a painting.

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  17. Beautiful picture and great reflections!
    Greetings from Sri Lanka!

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  18. Incredible capture, and this one lovely critter floating on. Beautiful.

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