It has been a remarkable week at the birdbath, including numerous visits from this juvenile Eastern Spinebill.
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
Do you ever find that nature offers something wonderful just when you need it most? It happened to me on Boxing Day when out of the blue many birds decided it was time to visit my birdbaths, it was just what I needed.
I think this youngster looks a little clumsy in the photograph above, as though it isn’t quite sure what to do with its tail as it hurries towards the water.
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
Eastern Spinebills are arguably Australia’s prettiest little honeyeater. Their long, decurved bill makes them look quite graceful.
I grabbed a few moments to hide beneath my fabric hide to watch these little beauties. I’ve always found that spending time in nature is deeply restorative. I can’t meditate, just can’t, not even for a few moments, but I can immerse myself in nature for hours.
Juvenile Eastern Spinebills have much softer colouring than they will as adults. Along with their muted colours they have brownish eyes and a yellowish base to their lower bill.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 1000
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
The spinebill above is an adult male, the females have a grey crown rather than black. Its marking are far more distinct than the juveniles, though the grey under-feathers are only showing as it has just bathed. It has a chestnut nape, orange underparts, a white throat and upper breast. Its bill is completely black and its eye is bright red. A spinebill image of mine was accepted into an international competition a few years ago where a vigilant (but not bird-savvy) steward changed its name to ‘Spoonbill’.
According to my weather station, the temperature in my garden reached 41.7 degrees Celsius today, or 107 degrees Fahrenheit – it was pretty warm. I kept the birdbaths topped up and put the soaker hoses on for a couple of hours.
Although most visitors to lirralirra are Aussies my analytics page shows that each week there are many visitors from countries all over the planet. It’s amazing to see country names pop up as visitors check in; I wonder about you all and hope that life is treating you well.
Thinking of you and wishing you health, happiness and heaps of birdsong, happy birding, Kim
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You’ve reached out with sensational photos Kim and I want to say its been a real treat and something to enjoy each week!!
It’s been my pleasure Tess, and definitely a two-way street š
I see these beauties out the window most days at the moment and hope they will use the birdbath, now on a small stand just tucked partially under a bush. Certainly needs constant refreshing this weather. Oh, so hot!
Hopefully they’ll use that birdbath soon. Maybe you could let a hose drip into it slowly on these super hot days but it’s a bit tricky to get the evaporation/refill rate exactly right! Cooler weather coming up š
Beautiful pics Kim,
I so agree with you about meditation ha! Made me larf, Iād much rather crawl around on my hands and knees in my garden pulling weeds or out in nature.
My favourite bird I find in my tiny suburban garden in Templestowe are the pair of scrub wrens that flitter and twitter in my bushes. We get lots of honeyeaters in my callistemons but they are larger and greyer than the pretty spinebill.
Stay cool over these hot days and happy birdwatching.
Happy New Year
I am very fond of scrubwrens, they are such bolshie little birds – it’s great that they visit your garden, and the honeyeaters too! HNY to you and yours too, Kim
I suspect that time in nature IS your form of meditation. And what a wonderful form it is.
Your temperatures have me shuddering. I loathe and detest the sweaty season (my MS loves it) and try and only go outside early. And how I miss the restorative powers of simply being outside.
Thank you for this beautiful youngster – and for keeping the water supplies topped up for the birds.
And here’s to a Healthy Happy Year for all readers of lirralirra – and for the world.
I think you’re probably right re the meditation EC. It was pretty hot here again today, thankfully not quite as high as yesterday. I lived in Darwin for a couple of years, talking of high humidity! I hope your weather stays cool and that the world treats you to a year of beautiful sunrises. A HHY to you and yours, and the world, too, Kim
Haha spoonbill!
Gorgeous photos of your lovely birdbath visitors ā¤ļø
I still chuckle about ‘spoonbill’. Beautiful visitors eh, so lovely to know they’ve raised at least one fledgling this year xo