Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
Formerly called the Common Moorhen, and like its relative the American Coot, the Common Gallinule is actually a member of the rail family (Rallidae), though both species swim and behave quite like a typical waterfowl. In the western USA their range is mostly year round in wetland areas of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and the Gulf coast through Florida and south through Mexico, Central and South America. Since the mid-twentieth century these birds have been expanding their range north through the eastern USA, and now they migrate in summer as far as southern Canada.
There are seven subspecies of Common Gallinule recognised by science, including the endangered `Alae `Ula in Hawaii. All members require well vegetated freshwater lakes for their survival.
- G. g. cachinnans lives in southeastern Canada, eastern United States, southwestern United States south to Panama, and on Bermuda and the Galapagos Islands.
- G. g. cerceris lives in the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles.
- G. g. barbadensis lives in Barbados.
- G. g. pauxilla lives in Panama through northern and western Colombia, south to northwestern Peru.
- G. g. galeata lives in Trinidad and from northern Venezuela and the Guianas south to central Argentina and Uruguay.
- G. g. garmani lives in the Andes from southern Peru south to northern Chile and northwestern Argentina.
- G. g. sandvicensis lives in Hawaii (Kauai and Oahu).
Most of my meetings with Common Gallinules have been in southern California, as I can enjoy their company within walking distance of my home. I’ve also met them at the Salton Sea and in Henderson (Nevada). While on my 2020 and 2021 Texas expeditions, I found them at many locations when I toured the entire Texas Gulf coast. The meetings I had in April-2021 were especially fun, because of the family group I met at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center.
35 Photos
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Formerly called the Common Moorhen, these birds are year-round residents near my home in Poway. I found these at the pond at Beeler Creek. Poway, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:02 16:32 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd1750CommonMoorhen |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Formerly called the Common Moorhen, these birds are year-round residents near my home in Poway. I found these at the pond at Beeler Creek. Poway, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:02 16:33 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd1764CommonMoorhen |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Formerly called the Common Moorhen, these birds are year-round residents near my home in Poway. I found these at the pond at Beeler Creek. Poway, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:02 16:40 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: jcd1791CommonMoorhen |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Once called the Common Moorhen, this juvenile bird was found near Lindsey Road at the Salton Sea is now called the Common Gallinule. Imperial County, California USA 2009-07-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:05 15:53 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD2279.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: These birds were once called Common Moorhen. This juvenile bird was found foraging in the marsh at Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-07-06. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 14:06 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD3043.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: (Gallinula chloropus) This bird was formerly called the Common Moorhen. "The Ponds" adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County USA 2010-01-06. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:06 11:22 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD4924.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: (Gallinula chloropus) This bird was formerly called the Common Moorhen. "The Ponds" adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County USA 2010-01-06. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:06 11:22 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: Cut_JCD4924.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Young juvenile in Penasquitos Creek, near Sabre Springs. Poway, California. San Diego County USA 2004-10-03. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:03 9:54 |
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Location:
Sabre Springs |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD_0576CommonMoorhen |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula chloropus) |
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Description: (Gallinula galeata) Beeler Creek Ponds in Poway California. San Diego County USA. |
Date Taken: 2018:12:24 14:08 |
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Location:
Beeler Creek Ponds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X9081-BeelerPonds_Poway |
| (C) 2018 Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 16:23 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd7087.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:21 11:40 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4831-CommonMoorHen |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 12:20 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X6452-CommonMoorHen |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 10:48 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D500036-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 17:25 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D501293-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: The Common Gallinule is another bird we in southern California are familiar with. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:01 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D501504-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: The Common Gallinule is another bird we in southern California are familiar with. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 8:30 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D509636-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:21 11:42 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4841-CommonMoorHen |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinules breed here and remain year-round. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 8:42 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X7648-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: The wetlands near the Convention Center provided ideal habitat for these gallinules. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 12:37 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X2738-SouthPadreIsland |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinules breed here and remain year-round. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 8:54 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X7832-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinules breed here and remain year-round. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 8:41 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X7633-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Gallinules, coots and grebes were present on the rookery pond’s waters. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:06 16:26 |
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Location:
Smith Oaks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X9538-HighIsland_SmithOaks |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinule on the marsh were raising families. Their young look much like coot chicks. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 17:03 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X3028_SPI-NatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinule on the marsh were raising families. Their young look much like coot chicks. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 17:05 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X3050_SPI-NatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
|
Description: Common Gallinule on the marsh were raising families. Their young look much like coot chicks. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 16:15 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X2875_SPI-NatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinules were aplenty on the edges of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:49 |
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Location:
Anahuac NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X0661-Anahuac_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
|
Description: Common Gallinule on the marsh were raising families. Their young look much like coot chicks. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 17:07 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X3091_SPI-NatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Resident year-round in south Texas, these adult Common Gallinules had nearly full-grown juveniles nearby. Spend a day at the SPI Bird and Nature Center (BNC) and there will surely be some interesting birds for your entertainment. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:03 9:13 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_8507723-SPI-BirdNatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Common Gallinules breed at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve. Any time spent in Port Aransas deserves a visit to the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. |
Date Taken: 2022:08:21 12:58 |
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Location:
Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Cent |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_8505928-PortAransas |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: You can count on the presence of gallinules in these wetlands. My trip to South Padre Island this day started slowly, but picked up nicely before the day finished. The Convention Centre delivered wonderful birds, as it often will. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:16 12:01 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X2825-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: These duck-like rails are year-round residents in the southern USA. My first morning capturing bird image in camp at Breeze Lake, Brownsville Texas. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:15 8:12 |
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Location:
Breeze Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X0561-BreezeLake |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson Nevada is comprised of nine ponds owned by the city's Waste Water Treatment Facility, but managed by nature lovers. It is the premiere birding location in southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:13 6:15 |
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Location:
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X2240-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
|
Description: Common Gallinules breed here and remain year-round. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 8:44 |
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Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X7722-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Gallinules are present all year on this marsh. My Monday visit to South Padre Island lasted all day. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 16:11 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X7462-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
|
Description: The wetlands near the Convention Center provided ideal habitat for these gallinules. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 12:29 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X2687-SouthPadreIsland |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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