Oh YAY! Such excitement over something so tiny but I’ve been seeing this gorgeous juvenile Eastern Spinebill flitting around the garden without having a spare moment to try to photograph it. This was my lucky week.
1/1250, f/5.0, ISO 1600
I was staggered when it perched in the open for the briefest of moments as it usually prefers the birdbath that is curtained with leaves. This juvenile Eastern Spinebill is way more subtly coloured than it will be as an adult, when it will have bold black, white, chestnut and orange plumage, a fully black bill and a red iris. I shared an image of an adult male Eastern Spinebill last week, which is probably this one’s parent. Adult males have slightly bolder markings than adult females. The species weighs about 11g (incredible when I think that a hen’s egg is about 60g) and measures about 16cm, which is also pretty amazing when most of the length is taken up by the tail and the delicate, de-curved bill.
This morning I was honoured to attend the breakfast for Women in Conservation at Melbourne’s Glasshouse, as a guest of Trust for Nature. I am very grateful for the experience, the inspiring speakers, the women I met, the kind lift into the city (which is definitely not my natural habitat) and the delicious breakfast. It was heartwarming to be among so many incredibly talented and passionate people. The event has made me think about how many of us care deeply about our environment and understand the intrinsic value of nature, and how we all help in so many ways, big and small – I thank you all for being part of such a vital community.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Prints and gifts Lirralirra Shop
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
Aw what a little sweetheart 💛
So cute eh 🙂
What a little cutie, so small and you were lucky to be on the spot to snap this young one. Such a great photo!
Thank you! I keep looking out for it Donna as I’d love to keep an eye on it as it gradually gets its adult plumage.
Good to hear that your Lirralirra subscribers aren’t the only ones to applaud the brilliant work you do – alerting all of us to the beauty of birds! The Trust for Nature clearly value your photographic talent and devotion to birds – and I reckon the birds do, too!
Thanks for another top photo this week – he looks a bit like one of our suburban sparrows, but that sharp beak makes him look a lot more feisty.
Thanks Deirdre. The juvenile spinebills look so different to the adults don’t they, almost like another species if not for the distinctive bill.
So delicate..beautiful image Kim. Good to see the next generation..
That is a lovely way to think of it Ann! There’s a next generation of fairywrens bathing at the moment which is lovely too.
Delightful photo of such a delicate little creature.
Great to hear of your inspiring/energizing experience as a guest of Trust for Nature. We need to have times when we are surrounded by like-minded people, to uplift us after negative and aggressive comments that often come our way on social media.
It was a beaut occasion Margot, very inspiring and encouraging, and much better than the unpleasant comments that can be aimed at anyone opposed to activities such as shooting native birds!