Eight being taken walkies

In a field on the hill above the Christian centre (there is a church, school, and training facilities for adults) there are often cattle grazing. These ones are well grown yearlings. Also in the field I saw what appeared to be two or even three groups of putangitangi (the Paradise Shelduck). Great calling and movement ensued when I approached the fence by the road; actually well away from them.

The one calling is second in this photo. He is the adult male. In front (and appearing to be doing as he instructed, because until he called she was pottering about) is the adult female. We then have three immature females, with a white patch around the eyes and at the base of the bill, and five juvenile males bringing up the rear. Juvenile males look like adult males, only smaller.

This is clearly successful breeding, and this morning the family was out for a walk in the grassland.

As the forecasters promised, the day started overcast and humid, and has progressed to rain. Preparations well under way for the arrival of family over the next couple of days. I went to find a folding bed for one of the lads to sleep on, and came back instead with 2 airbeds and a pump. Cheaper, better, and the problem is likely to be who gets to sleep on them rather than in the bunks, which they have all done before.