Tag: birds

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Pair of paradise ducks in Christchurch



Two ducks perched on rocks surrounded by calm water in their natural habitat.

Walking around Christchurch Botanic Gardens is always a good idea. I try to visit each time I am in the city centre. This was taken in July (mid winter here in New Zealand). There was frost on the ground but these two ducks weren’t bothered. They were enjoying the water garden. When I captured this photograph I knew the duck on the left was a female Paradise Shelduck (pūtangitangi) as the distinctive white head is easy to spot. I believe the darker coloured duck on the right is a male paradise duck but please correct me if I am wrong in a comment below.



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Squirrel in Jubilee Gardens

Squirrel sitting on the grass eating, surrounded by grey pigeon birds.


Sitting in Jubilee Gardens people watching and eating an over priced ice cream, I saw this squirrel. There was a group of people feeding the birds and a young boy who got very close to this squirrel. Since living in New Zealand where we don’t have squirrels they catch my eye much more these days. This particular squirrel sat very still for a couple of minutes as the birds around them moved about searching for food. I got lucky that in this capture it looks like the pigeons are all looking towards the squirrel. I nearly didn’t share this photograph as the large metal poll in the background is distracting and the squirrel isn’t that big in the frame. Not every photograph I take is my best work.

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Chicken in Rarotonga

Rooster chicken on the right side of the photograph looking towards the middle. With orange and red feathers and the corner of a blue fence in the background.

Hens and roosters like the one photographed here roam all over Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Taken in the popular Muri beach area. Specifically on the side road outside TEM Store and Takeaways. I try to ignore the chickens, roosters and dogs that roam freely around the island. In this case the sun was lighting up the spectacular oranges and reds of this roosters feathers. Along with the uncluttered background with a pop of blue fence for contrast. It made me stop and photograph this majestic rooster as he walked along the road.

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Cockerel on the Beach

Cockerel on the Beach

Whilst researching the Cook Islands before my trip here, I had read that there are a lot of chickens on the islands. I can confirm this is true. This Cockerel is a typical example of how colourful and big these wild birds are. He was very fond of walking me up at 7am every morning just in time for sunrise. Obviously, here he had crossed the road to get to the beach!