Flight

Another gorgeous day, a sunny 20 degrees. A few domestic chores done so I spent the afternoon doing some bird photography, the first time for a while. The white heron was down there in the creek, wintering over as he does most years, but although I followed him for some time he wasn't doing anything particularly interesting. So I've settled for this shoveler duck (Anas rhynchotis) in flight. You can see the broad, almost spoon-shaped bill that gives it its common name. Although not a threatened species, being found throughout NZ and Australia, they don't seem all that common. I certainly haven't been able to photograph one adequately before today.