Rick Simpson Birding Services

The weather has been pretty horrible here in Ubatuba whilst I have been away in sunny Minas Gerais, (more on this later) and this may be the explanation for a couple of rare sightings. American Purple Gallinule is not a common bird down here, there being a notable lack of habitat for them, but this didn’t stop our friend Odette finding not one, but two of them in as many days.

The first she found as she was leaving Rancho Pica-Pau having finished her stint at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre. It ran across the road in front of her, but she managed to get a couple of photographs of it before it disappeared into the bushes.

American Purple Gallinule, Rancho Pica-Pau.

The second was even more bizarre, it was found amongst the bicycles under her apartment block in the town centre! Here is a photo of it shortly before it was released into some nearby suitable habitat.

American Purple Gallinule, Ubatuba town.

Either there has been a movement of these birds and the weather has forced them to seek shelter in unusual places or there has been an influx of them for other reasons. Either way, those of you birding the region in the near future should keep a look out.

All photos on this page copyright Odette Gonçalves de Araujo.