So cute and fluffy! This little Purple Swamphen chick treads lightly on the lily pads, learning survival skills from its mother.

Here’s a nice shot of its stubby wings, and its well-developed feet under a couple of centimetres of water:

Setting off on a bit of exploration:

But staying close to mother:

Common name: Purple Swamphen

Scientific name: Porphyrio porphyrio

Approximate length: 50 cm

Date spotted: 30 October 2016

Season: Spring

Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia

Latitude/longitude: 33°46’36.1″S 151°14’48.8″E