Kereru!

I saw the underside of a large wing close to a window and went out to investigate. Sitting on my lawn was a New Zealand pigeon! I have never heard of any in this vicinity before. It was not afraid of me, just a little wary. All it wanted was a drink of water and a few minutes rest. It is a big bird- about 51 cm long. Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae, Maori name, kereru.
It has a splendid white breast. See here.

If all is lost here on Blip I will make use of that blog more often.

I usually do a green landscape for St Patrick’s Day, but the drought has done away with a lot of the green, except ugly irrigated places. The emerald green sheen on the pigeon’s plumage will have to do.