A surprise visitor to our verandah in downtown Paluma this morning……a juvenile Nankeen Night Heron. Something different from the usual mob of rifle birds, catbirds and honeyeaters looking to see if we had put any fruit out for them. The ‘NNH’ moved with all the speed of a tired cuscus on the verandah rail when it wasn’t standing stock still. A very naive youngster who didn’t see us as a threat at all and let me approach to within a couple of metres without any sign of alarm. Didn’t mind me taking 100 shots in the low morning light (1/25 @ f8 ISO 1250 on Canon 5DSR). He/she was there at break of day and was still standing looking like it wanted to come inside out of the rain when I sent this post at 0900. Now all I have to do is sort through 100 photos and decide which few to keep!
Text & Photos by Peter Cooke
There was a picture of this bird on Andre’s wall when Peter and Margaret bought number 6. 😊
What a great photo of a beautiful bird. You are indeed privileged. According to Roy Mackay’s bird list, the Nankeen Night Heron has been very rarely sighted in Paluma.
What a beauty. Just look at that plumage!