A trio of plovers

Spur wing plovers in the pond at Travis Wetland. Not really water birds as they don't have webbed feet, and are more usually seen on farmland, or wet grassland, but they are everywhere in NZ now, although the first ones known to breed here bred in 1932.

They are self introduced. They have a very loud penetrating call which doesn't endear them to people. They are feisty birds and will take on a harrier hawk if they feel their chicks are threatened.

I liked the colours of the birds against the blue of the water, reflecting a deep blue sky.

For a close up view click here