Lobby Moorhen

Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

As I walked back to my room after breakfast one morning, I notice this beautiful moorhen resting in the pool at the top of the water steps in the lobby, and thought to myself “I wish I had my camera with me, and that it would be gone if I ran for it”.

The steps from the lobby leads down to a swimming pool underneath some amazingly beautiful and mature trees abundant with fruits, and thus full of fruit eating birds. But now my focus was on this beautifully situated moorhen and that I would have to savour the moment that most certainly would not return.

The day to check out arrived much too soon, and after I had paid my dues I sit down to wait for my ride to Praslin airport. And there it is!! To my frustration I had not anticipated any photography, so I had my gear packed down and inside my room with air condition, which naturally caused my camera optics to fog up in this open air lobby. I found a sunny spot to heat up and dry up the moisture on my lens and feared I once again would miss it.

Fortunately not, as it preened its plumage and had lots of sips of water from the smashingly designed water art. Then I realised its beak had a strikingly similar color to the desk where I had just paid my dues, and not to forget the floor on where it rests – all black granite! Is the moorhen attracted to the color of the interior I thought, and thus positioned myself in such a way they were both in the capture.

After a while it leisurely strolled down to the pool and went for a swim! Then it strolled back up the water steps to the pool!

What a peculiar individual!
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