The masked lapwing is not a rare bird in Australia.
The masked lapwing (Vanellus miles), also known as the masked plover and often called the spur-winged plover or just plover in its native range, is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia, particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent, New Zealand and New Guinea. – Wikipedia
But one of the joys of travelling is that their ho-hum is my wow.
Isabel
What a delightful picture.
Tom
Tom – Thanks! After what seems like years chasing flitty little birds, I can’t even tell you how delightful it was to find a biggish bird that just sat there.
Amen to what Tom said Isabel. The ones we saw down under weren’t quite so patient as yours.
Florida birds, in some locations, are just as patient.
Jim – These specimens in the civic park in Sydney were obviously highly habituated to the presence of humans and didn’t bolt while I got my act together or even when I crouched down. Very considerate . . .
I still chuckle at the response of a Newfoundlander, who was amazed by seeing a magpie while visiting Alberta, and asked me if it was a type of “parrot” that had escaped someone’s home. He thought they were beautiful, and that we were SO lucky to have them as a native bird! I’ve looked at them with a little more appreciation ever since.
Alison – LOL. I, too, remember seeing Easterners in Calgary all amazed by magpies – a bird I had learned early to disrespect. “Just a magpie.” Certainly not interesting, much less wonderful. And I get that they’re slightly obnoxious birds, as are most in that family, but they are wonderful, too.