A Day For Ducks
It was a clear sunny morning today so I headed down to the Waiwhakaio river mouth to see what birds might be about. It turned out to be very much a day for ducks when I spotted a very rare grey duck (parera) as well as a number of grey/mallard hybrids which are also unusual sightings in New Plymouth. There were also a pair of paradise shelduck (putangitangi) on the river which made great photos in the soft dawn light.
Pure bred grey ducks are now quite rare due to constant interbreeding with mallards. They're typically only see in remote lakes and rivers so this sighting in New Plymouth is unusual. It's possible that this is a hybrid but from what could be seen while it was on the water it had no obvious signs of being a mallard hybrid, ie. beak not discoloured, very distinctive head stripes etc.
A grey duck (parera) on the Waiwhakaio river
grey duck (parera)
Some grey/mallard hybrids
grey duck/mallard hybrid ducks
A pair of paradise shelduck (putangitangi)
Female paradise shelduck
male paradise shelduck
female paradise shelduck
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