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Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday 138 - Purple Swamphen

I know that I have post a few pictures of Purple Swamphens in the past, but I find them such watchable birds that I can't resist a few more pictures.

These were taken on Churchill Island, which is a small island off the much larger Phillip Island, a couple of hours west of Melbourne.

I took these images using the car as a hide, and this is a method I intent to use more often in the coming months.

The Purple Swamphen is also known as Porphyrio porphyry, and is about 45 cm in length.




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42 comments:

  1. TexWisGirl11 March 2015 at 03:02

    they really are cool birds! coots, swamphens, moorhens, gallinules. very cool and quirky!

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  2. Rajesh11 March 2015 at 03:12

    Wonderful shots of purple swamphen.

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  3. eileeninmd11 March 2015 at 03:13

    Great shots of your Purple Moorhen..Using the car as a blind is a great idea, I have used my car as a blind many times.. Thanks for hosting, have a great week!

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  4. eileeninmd11 March 2015 at 03:14

    I should have typed Purple Swamphen, excuse me!

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  5. Sylvia K11 March 2015 at 03:23

    Handsome fellow and great shots as always, Stewart!! Hope your week is going well!!

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  6. cedarmerefarm11 March 2015 at 03:32

    That is an interesting looking bird. I am glad I found your meme. There are so many interesting and fantastic photos here.

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  7. A Colorful World11 March 2015 at 03:49

    Great photos, Stewart! It's a handsome bird. Thanks for suggesting WBWers might help with the ID's. I'm hoping! :-)

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  8. Author R. Mac Wheeler11 March 2015 at 03:53

    better than watching them, is listening to them. They sound like a bunch of old women haggling over their bingo cards. They crack me up.

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  9. Breathtaking11 March 2015 at 05:28

    Hello Stewart!:) Excellent photos of another interesting bird from Austrália.

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  10. sunshine11 March 2015 at 05:38

    Great birds and colors. Using a car as hide is a comfortable way to spot birds.

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  11. Ela11 March 2015 at 05:57

    Fantastic shots and beautiful birds !
    Greetings

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  12. Anonymous11 March 2015 at 06:01

    Great shots. I like its colorful plumage and red bill!

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  13. mick11 March 2015 at 06:20

    Great photos of the Purple Swamphen. The light really shows off their beautiful colors.

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  14. Findlay Wilde11 March 2015 at 07:32

    I like the two tone colour of that Swamphen.

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  15. Sallie (FullTime-Life)11 March 2015 at 07:35

    I love this guy - we have one called a gallinule (not sure if I spelled that right) and some people call it a swamp hen. Very similar -- they have huge feet and it looks like yours does too!

    Thank you for hosting.

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  16. Brian King11 March 2015 at 08:35

    Very cool, almost prehistoric looking birds!

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  17. thewovenspoke11 March 2015 at 09:31

    Interesting bird, you show us so many great birds from your part of the world.

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  18. FAB11 March 2015 at 09:40

    From memory they can be fairly boisterous! Cool colours.

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  19. Spare Parts and Pics11 March 2015 at 09:52

    He appears to be looking right at you!! Great photos.

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  20. Lois11 March 2015 at 10:02

    Interesting bird! I've never heard of them before. You got some wonderful shots, especially the one where the bird is looking right at you!

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  21. Joyful11 March 2015 at 10:41

    You got some great closeup shots.

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  22. Millie and Walter11 March 2015 at 11:07

    Nice pictures of your swamphen.

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  23. Linda W.11 March 2015 at 14:48

    That bird has a very interesting beak! Nice shots.

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  24. Karen11 March 2015 at 14:51

    Neat looking bird, terrific shots!

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  25. Andrea11 March 2015 at 16:08

    Oh i think i saw that in NZ, but my shot is not usable for posting, i was too far!

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  26. Margaret Birding For Pleasure11 March 2015 at 20:45

    The car is a good idea as a hide but not always possible. Great shots of this bird.

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  27. Jo11 March 2015 at 22:30

    Hi Stewart, I'm linking to your meme from South Africa these days! I love the Purple Swamphen. Your shots are so good. We have a similar bird: African Purple Swamphen or Purple Gallinule. I'm always thrilled when I see one! Have a great day. Jo

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  28. Adam Jones11 March 2015 at 23:50

    Coot and Moorhen spring to mind. Great looking bird and quite stocky.

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  29. Optimistic Existentialist12 March 2015 at 00:17

    Amazing shots as always, Stewart.

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  30. Mary Hone12 March 2015 at 02:07

    What a crazy looking bird.

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  31. Inspired By June12 March 2015 at 02:24

    Great shots, Stewart! Birds look so different dead-on, don't they. I was shooting a roadrunner yesterday and was struck at how different they look - I'm hoping to link those shots next week - have a great week!

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  32. Anonymous12 March 2015 at 03:03

    What an interesting bird! Lovely photos.

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  33. This N That12 March 2015 at 04:27

    Great looking bird Stewart..I really enjoy your pictures and seeing birds that I would otherwise not know..Thanks..I don't think I have any new wild birds to link..Eileen beat you to the latest..Have a wonderful day..

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  34. Ana Mínguez Corella12 March 2015 at 07:28

    Hello!!!.. Nice and bright colors ..Very good pics .. Great

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  35. jp@A Green Ridge12 March 2015 at 11:09

    I saw my first coot when we were n Aruba last Spring, Stewart and was thrilled!!! This one you have for us is truly kind f cute I think!...:)JP

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  36. Bethany Carson12 March 2015 at 11:17

    The swamphen has very neat coloring! I've never seen a bird like that!

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  37. Stephanie12 March 2015 at 11:43

    Great looking bird!

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  38. Lux G.12 March 2015 at 21:20

    I like the photo where she looks straight into the camera. That curious fierce stare is intimidating. :)

    Cool shots!

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  39. SeaThreePeeO12 March 2015 at 22:57

    Wow, I've never seen a Purple Swamphen before. What a wonderful bird. Thank you for hosting.

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  40. Phil Slade13 March 2015 at 00:18

    It's like a giant Moorhen Stewart. I always think the name "swamphen" is rather uncomplimentary - a big chicken living in an undesirable place etc?

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  41. Anonymous13 March 2015 at 01:39

    So pretty!

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  42. Mary Howell Cromer13 March 2015 at 23:58

    Very neat looking birds. I saw my first Moorhens that looked similar, and other wonderful birds last week in FL, Just published the post this morning~

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