Congratulations Carla! With so many fantastic photos to choose from, yours received the highest rating among members. You’ve not only brought honor to the Oceania chapter, but you have won a year of free dues for yourself. Thanks to everybody who submitted their wonderful “Birds” theme photos for the June contest. They can still be seen and commented on by visiting https://pollunit.com/en/polls/tcc-2026-september.
The theme for our December 2026 contest is “Birds.” Click for contest details »
Whilst visiting New York in October of 2018, I learned about the ‘Hot Duck’ taking up residence in a Central Park pond. This colorful East Asian native quickly gathered a following, and massive crowds visited the park to see his bright orange, purple and cream feathers. Fascinated by this unique resident, I visited the park every day until I looked up from the book I was reading, and there he was swimming straight towards me, playing peekaboo in the tall reeds.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Tom Gregory, Orlando, Florida
A group of feral water buffaloes cool off in Yala National Park in Sri Lanka, while a sentinel-like great white egret stands on the back of a 1,000-kg buffalo. In a symbiotic relationship, the egret will pluck insects and other parasites that bother the buffalo.
Gus Lopez. Seattle, Washington
This red-legged seriema was easy to find from literally miles away because of its distinct, loud, screeching call that could wake up the dead. Native to South America, the screech starts slow and high-pitched, then rapidly speeds up and climbs in pitch like a loud, howling alarm.
