Blossoms, a bee swarm and snails are all part of this week’s images – it was a slow bird week. I spent heaps of time outside, saw some beautiful birds including Scarlet Honeyeaters, Satin Flycatcher, Sacred Kingfisher and Brolga but took some very ordinary images. So, a different collection of images this week with a visit from a bemused pair of spectators at the end.
Callistemon Dawson River
Red Wattlebirds, New Holland Honeyeaters and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters hassled each other for the rights to the nectar. There was plenty for them to share but instead they wasted energy chasing each other away from the blossoms.
Bee swarm
Next came the swarm of bees, settling on a sapling while they contemplated their new premises. As new bees joined the swarm they ‘danced’ the way they do when giving directions to nectar. It was fascinating to see the swarm moving and watch the bees’ wings catch the light. Honey bees are not native to Australia and cause issues for mammals and birds that use hollows for nesting. They also colonise nesting boxes but this can be stopped by attaching carpet to the ‘ceiling’ of the box effectively preventing the bees from attaching to it themselves.
Snail heading east
Then things slowed down even more. The blackness on the snail’s face is an ant. I liked the three textures together: the snail, the shell and the bark.
Snail heading west
I liked photographing the spiral of the snail’s shell as well as the back of it. I used a tripod for the snail shots, lying on the ground while I peered up at the snail to get a clear background.
While I was busy ‘working’ I heard some strange sounds above me. Eventually I looked up …
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
I couldn’t help but laugh at their expressions.
Happy birding, Kim
NB It is possible to receive a weekly email letting you know that lirralirra has been updated – just add your address to the ‘Subscribe to email’ box above right.
Also, I have added a Facebook ‘like’ button. Thank you to all ‘likers’ – I like you too!
nice pictures kim,
the both cockatoo are very lovely like that
have a good week end ☼☼☼
Thank you 🙂
I love the bees too. and snail heading west. and the bottlebrush. i am quite macro actually.
I love macro too! I keep thinking about getting another lens but can’t bear to take off the long lens in case a bird turns up. I’m glad you like the bees and snail 🙂
Gorgeous photos!
Thank you Gunilla, and thank you for sharing beautiful roses on your site (it won’t let me comment)
Wow, gorgeous images. The snail is really cool. And I love the pretty Cockatoo. Wonderful post, have a happy weekend!
Thank you Eileen, I’m glad that people aren’t saying ‘ew, a snail!’ Happy weekend to you too.
These are stunning photos – as always. I love the swarm of bees, and am always fascinated to notice that cockatoos are at least as curious about us as we are about them.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hi EC, thank you! That is so true about cockatoos, they are beautiful birds. I’m glad you liked the bees 🙂
My favorite of the photos in this post is “Snail heading west.” The dark BG is perfect for the black and gold of the shell and I like the contrast in the hardness/softness and sharpness/diffuseness (?) of the dark/light areas in shell and body. The swarm of bees is neat too.
Thanks Dave, I always appreciate your interesting comments. I’ve just been re-looking at sweet little ‘Snail heading west’, the contrasts are fascinating. I was glad to be using the 100-400mm when photographing the bees!