This young Grebe was found wandering in a backyard on the 20th of December, nowhere near water, a small head injury but otherwise in good health.
21.12.08
2.01.09
11.01.09 Into the big pond and a close encounter with the turtle
...some underwater swimming practice
Up for air..
12.01.09 Release Day.........
Going through some old photos the other day I came across 4 photos taken in the late 80's. It was my first trip to Sha-bangabang, formally New Zealand. We were visiting Timothy's parents in Taupo, and doing some sight seeing. We spent a couple of days in Napier, a unique "Art Deco Town" the town being rebuilt as the result of an earthquake in 1931.
We took the 'Gannet Safari Tour' to Cape Kidnappers, it was a life changing experience, standing within feet of a million nesting Gannets was amazing, we were hooked on bird watching from that day on.The Safari Tours still operate and seem to be a lot bigger than when we went (1 truck)
I've had some great birding trips over the years but the trip to Cape Kidnappers is by far the stand out!!
And high on the 'return to' list.
The only thing between us and the Gannets... A low chain fence
The Cygnets have arrived..on Wednesday morning I wandered over and caught sight of them, five balls of grey fluff paddling in the shallows one adult on the bank the other in the water.
The following day...
I apologize for the photo quality,my camera is still being fixed .
Swamphen chicks are amazingly agile and use their huge feet for climbing as well as holding food, they also have a little claw on their wing and use this when clambering around in the reeds. Their down is very dense and has white tips.
The Beak starts out white with a red base and gradually darkens.
The shield starts to turn red beginning from the top of the head.
A red beak and the ability to fly seem to coincide, also the eye colour develops.
This photo shows an adult.
These are my own observations, taken from birds that have been in my care, and may not reflect birds in the wild.
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