Happy Monday everyone. This week's bird of the week is the Purple Swamphen - common in our parks rather than gardens, they look a bit like a chicken on steroids 
When I was in NZ last year I was struck by how much they love swamphens (called Pukekos) and there was all sorts of crazy Pukeko merchandise to be bought!
Feel free to share your stories and photos on Purple Swamphens here.
This is a very interesting choice Holly, when I saw it, I thought, O well, no problem I have hundreds of photo of the Purple Swamphen. Every time you go to a lake, there they are. Honestly, I stopped taking photos of them. So, I just started looking to find a good photo.
O my God, I don't have that many photos of them. I do have hundreds of Dusky Moorhens and juveniles, countless Coots and their young at different ages, but not many Swamphens at all.How could I have ignored them? Shame on me. I will go out tomorrow and find some to apologize to them, and try to get some good photos.
Here is what I've got so far:
M-L
I nearly lumped them all together in one bird of the week but then I thought no - I will make it a bit more challenging
I have set you a goal for the week M-L!
Thanks Holly.....I love a challenge !
M-L
Wow great choice!! being a Kiwi I am only too aware of how much they love Pukekos . Such an iconic bird and as you say there are so many great pieces of art for the garden etc .I will have to now go and dig out my shots
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Got this portrait only a few days ago at Mill Park.
Cheers, Owen.
That's a great shot Owen, is that mud in it's face??
M-L
I just found about 20 more photos, (relax M-L, LOL), don't be scared, I'm only going to post two more for now. Took these on Phillip Island this summer.
M-L
We call them Purple Chickens and quite a few have made the local park wetlands their home. Each generation has become progressively accustomed to humans and, consequently, are easy to approach for a photo.
I thought that M-L must have more than a couple of shots of this species. Nice close-up Owen.
1. Taken at, you guessed it, the Western Treatment Plant.
2. One of the friendly locals from our local park.
3. Jell's Park.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
well mine looks a bit far away compared to these others!!!! Never mind, it's a habitat shot
Sunshine Coast Queensland
It's a really tough one. Such a common bird, but hardly anything to show :) Took this one in Daylesford couple of weeks ago.
Laurius
Cheers, Owen.
they always seem to have somewhere to go
Peter
Nice photos so far and it is good that you have captured the purple feather detail as that is not easy on irridescent plumage.
Regards
Shane
Great shots...love the portraits Laurius and Owen
Pacman ... you made me laugh as you are so right...they do always seem to be on their way somewhere ha ha ha .
Sunshine Coast Queensland
You are so right Peter .. they always have somewhere to go.. found this one
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I like most others here have photos somewhere of the Purple Swamphens, But where? so these will have to do for my contribution.
Regards
Shane
Nice images guys. Owen, love that one with the dirty bill! So authentic!
I adore these guys. So common yet so much character! But aren't all birds great? To me definitely!
I got the first two shots at Penrith Lakes Regatta Center on Wednesday afternoon and the others some time earlier at Richmond's Pughs Lagoon (that's Sydney). Absolutely gorgeous birds with that glowing purple/blue sheen.....
Me being the ever obsessed (really?) bird photography maniac, I take any and all opportunity to photograph even the same old birds. To me it's about photography and not ticking a life list of stuff. others can do that.
There are some gorgeous photos on here that really show off the purple feathers and red beak and frontal shield
Love them all, and Akos. they are just spectacular images ...love the walking on water one and the one with the chick ..... just beautiful.
Well done everyone, I can see that we dont take this "ordinary" bird for granted :)
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Akos those shots are bloody brilliant mate!
Cheers, Owen.
Lovely photos, great close ups too. I love the colours on the Swamphens, they stand out against the green vegetation. I didn't realise they could fly!
Here's another picture of a purposefully perambulating purple swamp hen at Mannum SA
Funny that I note that I don't often see these rails (swamphen are in the rail/crake family) fly. Hard to get a flight shot. Will try some more soon.
Love the alliteration Woko
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Here is a photo i took some time ago while camping next to a billabong in Kakadu, early morning having a coffee and i could se them coming along the bank, quite a number in the group, and not fussed at all by us, just continued on their way, through the camp to wherever they were going! Not a great photo, (happy snap camera), but such a delight to see to start the day, and to see in such numbers at one time.
Whoa Hendo, that's a swamphen feeding frenzy!
I agree Hendo...... somany going who knows where, but aways with time to stop and peck along the way
I loved the pic and really loved your narraive..... can just imagine what it was like camping next to a billabong in Kakadu ...great stuff
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Amazing shots everyone! I love that you are all finding inspiration in birds that are often just accepted as 'common'.
Still thinking of inspiration for this week...
I was on the Redcliffe Peninsula, Qld on the weekend and this bird just wanted to pose for a pic - clearly didn't know that the Bird of the Week had moved on.
Peter