Purple Gallinule: York County, Maine, USA, October 2023 — So this is strange, but not as strange as I first thought. I have seen Purple Gallinules in full adult plumage in Florida and in Central America where they live in the marshes with lots of floating vegetation…those long toes support them as they walk around hunting on lily pads and other floating vegetation…though I have seen them with chicks in flooded fields in Costa Rica. They range from southern Florida all down through Central American and the whole Amazon Basin in South America. Turns out they are a bird that is often seen well outside its range. There have been over 30 sightings in Maine over the past 30 years…the most recent, before this year, was two separate birds in 2021. This year there have been two sightings in Maine…some speculate it is the same bird, seen on consecutive days in Greenville and here in York County…200 miles apart. The York County bird is being seen in a populated area, basically in a grassy plot at the edge of a village park with a lily pond. Some speculate that these Purple Gallinules found far from their range are not lost…that they are in fact, just looking for more food than they were finding at home. Maine is, however, a long way to go for a few grubs and seeds from a village lawn. Takes all kinds. Even among Gallinules. At least some Gallinules in Maine in the past have not survived, and if this one is going to head south, and make it back to safe winter range, it is about time it gets started. At the moment it appears healthy enough, and if it is the same bird seen in Greenville, it is certainly capible of long distance flight. This is juvenile bird, with just a hint of the bright purples and iridescent greens of its adult plumage. The odd shield on its forehead and bill will turn bright red as it ages, if it ages. Rescue attempts for vagrant birds do not have a high success rate, and I am happy to say I don’t have to make that decision. I generally don’t chase vagrant birds, but this one is a pleasant Sunday morning’s walk from my home, and my wife gave me a lift part way. No excuses. If you go try to find it, and it is still there, please give it all the space it wants, all the space it needs. This far from home it does not need any extra stress in its life. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent (and cropped). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro.