Penguin a rare Riversdale visitor

STOKED: from left , Jono Didsbury, Augusta Rutherford, Maggie Pearce, George Pearce, Jock Rutherford, Hugo Rutherford, and Angus Pearce got up close to a blue penguin on Riversdale Beach.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A group of children playing in the sand at Riversdale Beach last week got a nice surprise when they came across a blue penguin soaking up the sun.

Nicky Costello, who sent a photo to the Times-Age, said the surf lifesavers said they had not seen one on the beach before and there was a lot of interest taken in the arrival of the little creature.

Wairarapa Department of Conservation ranger Joe Hansen said blue penguins usually liked rocky and vegetated areas to hide in and this one had probably ventured further ashore for a bit of a rest.

"It's not common for one to come in at Riversdale," Mr Hansen said.

"We often get them down at Palliser, they seem to like that rocky shore, near Riversdale it's pretty open."

Mr Hansen said he suspected the penguin was young and may have been separated from its mother.

Blue penguins breed from August to March. If they come ashore it is usually at dusk and the penguins depart at dawn.