Although the birds of New Zealand do not generally compare in brilliance of hue as those of, say, Australia there are some very beautiful and exceptionally interesting ones. For me one of the loveliest is the Welcome Swallow. I have blogged a number of times on this joyful bird: see this list at Postvorta.
They are exceptionally fast and not in the least bit afraid of coming within a few feet of a person to catch some tasty insect morsels attracted by the carbon dioxide emitted in our breath or perhaps the blood on which they like to feed! I've only managed to capture them in flight on one trip to Miranda.
When I was at Pauline's there were some youngsters nearby and I managed to get one sitting on a post not far away (but through a window). They may not be my best Welcome Swallow photos but they are close runners in the cuteness stakes.
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Prettier than ours. I wonder where these go for winter.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice warm country Adrian. They stay here.
DeleteBrilliant capture! How wonderful that you were able to get a photo of this swallow even if it was through a window! So lovely to see.
ReplyDeleteThanks Serenata. It was still. I can do still.
DeleteMy window must have been cleaner than I thought. I think their colours must go duller as they age, they aren't so pretty now.
ReplyDeletePauline the colours certainly change and go darker but catch them in the sunlight and they are still quite radiant close up.
DeleteThey are absolutely beautiful, GB!
ReplyDeleteThey are aren't they Frances?
Deletezo mogen dan heel snel en bang zijn maar ze staan er wel heel mooi op.
ReplyDeleteIk was ver van hen Bas. Ik denk dat de vogels niet zien door glas gemakkelijk. Het is misschien wel de reflecties. [I was far away from them Bas. I think that birds do not see through glass easily. It is perhaps the reflections.]
DeleteGreat depth of field in the images. Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
I am very pleased with the lens on my Canon bridge camera Mersad.
DeleteSeeing different birds would be a highlight of any trip for me. So your welcome swallow is a good example of what I would like to see.
ReplyDeleteRed, birds do offer that change of fauna when we go abroad and I always enjoy it too.
DeleteI wouldn't have guessed that you took these pictures through a window. And you are right about them (the birds, not the window) ranking high in the cuteness stakes.
ReplyDeleteMeike I have found that if I am close to the glass I can usually get the camera to ignore it and not cause too much distortion.
DeleteThey have very pretty colours GB. Sparrows here are vermin.
ReplyDeleteOddly Carol I have never though of sparrows as vermin. I have lots of them on Lewis and they nest under the eaves of my house. But then Lewis doesn't have outdoor cafés for them to raid.
DeleteDefinitely cute! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Monica, hard to be cuter unless you're a kitten.
DeleteVery cute little birds...your lens sure comes in handy for these treasured photos.
ReplyDeleteVirginia I bought this particular camera because of the ability of the lens and I've never regretted it.
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