For some reason I’ve never expected to see a duck high up a gum tree. I know they fly, but somehow I think of them as spending their lives on the ground or on the water. Walking through the bush, I’ve occasionally heard a muttering, rolling sound coming from the tree tops. Imagine my surprise when I tracked it down to this Australian Wood Duck.

Here’s a still photo of the duck:

And in profile:

Common name: Australian Wood Duck

Scientific name: Chenonetta jubata

Approximate length: 50 cm

Date spotted: 31 July 2016

Season: Winter

Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia

Latitude/longitude: 33°46’41.1″S 151°14’54.9″E