An unusual thing
7th July 2023
Wurruma Swamp, February 2020.
You can see Plumed Whistling Ducks throughout the year up the Tablelands. I have literally taken thousands of photos of them. Notice the colour of the body as that will become very relevant in a short while.
Hastie’s Swamp, July 2020.
Around the middle of the year however they can be found at places like Hastie’s Swamp in the thousands.
Hastie’s Swamp, June 2023.
Every year while the ducks are there en masse I take the opportunity to visit Hastie’s Swamp to practise my bird in flight photography. This year is no different and I have been visiting there often of late as I pass through to other areas. They are very active and constantly fly around giving opportunities for practise.
Hastie’s Swamp, April 2021.
Most of the photos of the Plumed Whistling Ducks I delete but occasionally when I capture some unusual behaviour or a nice composition I add it to my collection. Last Friday I captured some images of this species of bird that I will more than likely never catch again.
Hastie’s Swamp, 7th July 2023.
While dropping into Hastie’s with my sister who was visiting from Adelaide I saw this, a Plumed Whistling Duck that has a white body. I nearly left the camera in the car and so lucky I did not.
I believe this is what is referred to as a leucistic bird. The affected plumage lacks melanin pigment due to the cells responsible for producing melanin being absent. The result is white feathers unless the normal plumage colour also comprises yellow, orange, red and purple colours, in which case those areas remain unaffected by the condition……unlike an albino bird where everything is white.
Hastie’s Swamp, 7th July 2023.
I got to see this bird for just a few minutes before it flew off into a group of thousands and I am so grateful to have had the chance to take at least some photos. My wife was also with me on this day and special things tend to happen when she is about :)