Kea......

....the only alpine parrot in the world....

Known as cheeky, curious, clowns, full of character, they're endemic and protected, located only in the South Island in the high country and alpine basins.

For 8 years I have been blipping.......and in this time I have been wanting to blip Kea. We have done day trips to Arthur's Pass in hope of sighting them at the scenic lookouts, we've traveled through Arthur's Pass on the way to the West Coast but all they've done is tease me with their long loud high-pitched descending cry 'keeeeaaaa', there have been no sightings. I've seen numerous of shots from other blippers who have been fortunate to see them but alas I've never been lucky enough.......until today!! 

YUS!!........I was 'over the moon' and couldn't get out of the car fast enough! 

There wasn't one but four, how lucky was that, two juveniles and two adults. I easily took 300 shots, they were preening, hoping from rock to rock, playing with shells and being just a little mischievous chewing and pecking at rubber round car windscreens or anything they could get their becks into, even the windscreen wipers!!

This Kea was drinking from a crack in the rock, he's a juvenile as he has yellow round his eyes and bill. The extras show both adults and juveniles and how well camouflaged they can be especially the second extra, note there are two Kea in this shot.

Feeling proud as punch with these shots, a moment recorded and never forgotten......finally some Kea shots after 8 years of blipping!!

Next challenge is to get one in flight, now that would be amazing!!