We have lots of swamp hens around our dam, and I've been taking quite a few photos of them.
I was wondering why I couldn't get any decent shots of them showing individual feathers - until I realised that even only a metre away you don't see individual ones.
They look like they are made of velvet, no seams showing. LOL.
Chris
Being water birds I imagine they have very fine feathers to keep out the water, try catching them in different light and you might find the seams.
I tried to find a photo that shows some, not a lot, of feather detail. I love your photos, and I love their huge feet
M-L
Thanks M-L
Proves they are normal after all, with feathers and not waterproof velvet :)
I'll have to remember to take some shots from the same angle and see what happens.
Chris
We have these at Fogg Dam but they are brown not purple. I would love to c purple ones.
Alan
brown 'cause of the dirty water?
have you a pic?
Peter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dBe3C-qiEY
Great video Alan
I saw a bit of the purple sheen when the swamphen turned away from the other bird.
Perhaps diet may have something to do with the different colour in your area?
Soap anyone? LOL
Chris
For a second I thought Alan was talking about a " Dusky Moorhen", not to be confused with a "Dusty Moorhen"
Here is a young couple in love
M-L
Alan, could they be Dusky Moorhens?
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Dont know. Do they have those up here?
If by up here you mean Qld then yes
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
I believe that it is a Purple Swamphen - right height, red bill & frontal shield, white triangle under tail
and as Araminta said in a post you can see the Purple when it turns to face R
Simpson & Day say that the Dusky Moorhen does not get to Darwin
'they are probaly using a homebrand soap not Sunlight'
Peter
I ment outside of Darwin, Fogg Dam
They should be back at Fogg Dam soon. Will take some photos.
Maybe the US military moving in there have scared the purple out of them
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Fogg Dam was built by the Military!
The ones in the little video are Purple Swamphens, no doubt in my mind
, the photo I posted of the Dusky(/dusty) Moorhens were just a joke and a word game
M-L