Times are certainly strange when I spend much of the week standing in my bathtub with my camera resting on the windowsill.
1/800, f/4.0, ISO 3200
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
If I had to be confined to home, and ridiculously weak as I steadily recover, then doing it when the figs are ripening was fortuitous.
There’s a small orchard outside my bathroom window, with a fig tree closest to the house. Each morning I look at the tree, often thinking there’s nothing in it until I’ve watched a while longer and notice tiny Silvereyes pecking happily at ripe figs.
After a couple of weeks of just watching I felt well enough to use my camera. By standing in the bath I could open the screenless window a little, rest my lens on the windowsill and start photographing these adorable little visitors from Tasmania.
1/1000, f/4.0, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
Silvereyes are often at my property, enjoying the birdbaths, eating the berries of the Prickly Currant bushes and nesting in the Swamp Paperbarks. My regular Silvereyes, I believe, are the ssp westernensis. The ssp lateralis, with their dark rufous flanks, generally visit during April – making the most of the figs.
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
The photograph above shows how careful they are to enjoy every speck of goodness the figs have to offer. This year I even saw them eating the pith, which makes me wonder whether it is a source of vitamin C. I remember my guinea pigs enjoying the pith from oranges for that reason.
1/800, f/4.0, ISO 2000
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
The Silvereyes were comical to watch, often chasing each other from the ripest figs after a few moments. Pairs would take flight, chasing each other around and through the tree – I had no hope of photographing their aerial acrobats, they were crazily fast.
1/1-00, f/5.6, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
I wanted to get some shots that show how tiny these birds are, weighing a mere 10g. It’s astounding to think that these minute birds can migrate between Tasmania and the mainland. From island sightings, it’s believed that they may hop from island to island, which would mean their longest flight with no rest would be 50km. Still a huge distance.
Not all Tassie Silvereyes choose to migrate, but those that do can end up as far north as Queensland and as far west as Adelaide.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
The figs on my tree are pretty small, they fit in my hand. I experimented with a wider depth of field to try to capture a Silvereye in a different way. I have a few ‘peeking’ shots that make me smile. I hope you like this one.
Happy birding from home, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
As always,Kim,lovely photos.
I was however disappointed to not see a pic you standing in the bathtub.
That would have completed the set of images very nicely.
Thank you Noel. I will remain forever grateful that no photojournalist was within a very loud cooee of my bathtub!
Wow what a gorgeous selection of pics! The fluffy first one and the peeker are my favourites but they’re all beautiful! Love them!
I enjoy hearing about favourites, it always interests me to know what others like, thank you. The ‘peeker’ shots I took made me chuckle, they are such tiny little birds. I’ve looked at the fig tree sometimes and thought no birds were there until noticing a tiny movement, and then another and another, until realising the tree was full of Silvereyes.
Oh, you lucky girl! I have been waiting in earnest for these to turn up here on their yearly pilgrimage. Found them a few years ago when I was almost bombarded by a swarm of them and didn’t know exactly what it was that went furiously over my head and landed in the weedy bushes where they were eating furry type seeds.They were crawling over the tops of each other to get to the food as though they were ravenous. Soon after I was to learn why after spending hours with them and taking not very good photos, I might add, as they were so fast and the bushes seemed to be pulsating from their fast movements. I went home and looked them up so now it is my ritual that in April I listen for their telltale little chirps which I did hear today and yes, I did see them and there were hundreds but they shot from the tops of one lot of trees to the next!Aagh!! The places where I have seen them before they weren’t!
Last year I actually got to hold one in my hand when I was walking up a friends driveway I found it on the ground. It was so tiny!I placed it in a box in a warm spot and after awhile it started to revive and wanted to fly so I opened the box. They’re one of my favourite birds. I don’t have Silvereyes here and these are the only ones that turn up twice a year. On the way north and on ther way back.
The funny thing is I came from Flinders Island in the Bass Strait and don’t remember seeing them. Probably something that I just didn’t notice.
Anyway, my Figs are finished so they definitely won’t be into them. Last year i did look out my kitchen window and found the Silvereyes all over my lawn. So wish me luck.
How fabulous to have seen such a big flock of them Margaret. I’ve probably had about three dozen here, busily chatting away to each other as they forage. I’m very curious about what they may have been eating in the ‘weedy bushes’. Maybe there was some kind of fruit there, or perhaps they were taking insects.
Lovely that you’ve seen them this year. Holding our little bush birds is always an amazing experience; they are crazily tiny. I’m glad that the little one you looked after made a full recovery.
That is funny about Flinders Island. You’d be able to picture Angus’ comments, below, perfectly. I had to look on maps.
I definitely wish you luck with seeing them again!
You have captured these exquisite little creatures with your photographic excellence.
What a visual treat! Thank you!
You are very welcome Margot. I think a fig tree in your garden would be a great idea!
Hi Kim, This is Angus, married to Alison who occasionally communicates with you.
Before retirement, I was a ship’s captain and spent many years on all sorts of ships in the Bass Strait.
Among the common bird sightings, enormous flicks of Silvereyes were a common seasonal event particularly in the regions of the Kent Group of Islands, Curtis Island and the northern extremities of King and the Furneaux Island groups.
There are a variety of unmanned ‘rigs’ or platforms out there, and on occasion these little birds would settle for a rest before some sort of unseen/ unheard message would them instantly into the sky and on course for the next perch.
I have no idea of the numbers such flocks would have contained, but the surface area of such a group would have been about the size of a large car, very audible and fairly rapid.
On another voyage, a big fat owl sat at the pinnacle of the mast where it remained all night as the ship pitched and rolled on a southerly course from Gabo Island.
One day, a massive Wanderer Albatross crashed into the front of the accommodation and fell to the deck. There was insufficient space for the bird to take off again without a runway, and so I went down to the forecastle (front deck at the bow) and thought I might be able to assist it by carrying it to the after deck where there was plenty of space…
But when I saw how large the bird was and after it took a good swipe at my eye with a fearsome beak… I returned to my cabin, put on my motorcycle jacket, a thick pair of welding gauntlets and my full face helmet.
This attired, I wrestled the bird into a corner, much to the crew’s merriment, picked it up with folded wigs and took it to the extreme point of the bow. The ship’s course was altered into the 25 knot wind and bird spread its wings and gracefully took off with much tail wagging.
Thank you for your wonderful site, photographs and stories. We love receiving them.
Angus
Oh Angus. That is a truly delightful story about the Albatross. Thank you so much.
And that many silvereyes would require a fig orchard rather than a tree.
I agree EC!
Hi Angus, what a fabulous wealth of information about these tiny migrators. I’ve just spent ages checking maps for all the islands you mentioned (Curtis Island took a while) and imagining huge flocks of Silvereyes navigating their way towards the mainland, and back again. It astounds me how any migratory birds navigate vast distances. There is so much about the natural world that we don’t understand.
How amazing about the owl, and what an incredible experience with the albatross. You’ve painted such a clear image of the dramatic rescue that it makes me wish I’d been there to watch, or maybe to help, or more likely to take photographs!
Thank you for sharing such fascinating information, best regards to you and Alison, Kim
Stunning photos again Kim. I always look forward to receiving your emails.
Thank you Linda, that’s lovely to know, Kim
Hi Kim. A great story with beautiful photos. They are packed with color for such a small bird.
They are quite dramatic little birds for sure. I’ll have to post some pardalote images Harry, if you’re not familiar with those little birds I’m sure you’d love to see them, Kim
Magic pics as always and again, so informative – thank you so much Kim, for your beautifully written article! I now understand how to find those Tassie migrants and will be looking to see if they get here too. But oh my gosh…I am so sorry to hear you’ve not been well- stress is just the worst. Wishing you a very speedy recovery. 💚🐥❤💖🕊🐤 Be gentle with yourself Kim, and rest, rest, rest! The birds need you and so do we.
Thank you for your kind comment Denise, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness (you’ve made me feel like taking a mid-morning nap). I hope the Tassie migrants turn up for you and make it obvious who they are, Kim
What a stunning series Kim! Exquisite creatures. I hope you continue to benefit from the enforced rest, and we from your beautiful work. Wishes for a return to glowing health. Sue
Hi Sue, thank you kindly! Enforced rest definitely doesn’t suit me. I went from being super fit and busy to a sloth in a matter of days. It was fun to be able to carry my camera again, even if I did have to rest it on the bathroom windowsill 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful images and the stories that travel with them. I have had one successful pardalote photography session in decades of bird loving. My admiration for your incredibly detailed images is heartfelt. Your kindness and generosity in sharing the images with others is clearly abundant, and I trust life rewards you most favourably in return. For now, please accept my sincere gratitude.
Hi Janine, I was deeply moved by your beautiful comment, thank you so much. Getting good photographs of pardalotes is fantastic, congratulations, if you can do that I’m sure you’d be great with all kinds of birds. And, you are very welcome, Kim
Gorgeous shots.
Mind you, yours are much more careful than the ones I grew up with. We had a fig tree in the back yard and as Togram said, they poked hole in the fruit, nibbled a bit and moved on to the next. It was my job to clean up the mutilated and rotting fruit and to this day I cannot face fresh figs – though I still love the criminals involved.
I hope your health continue to improve – dramatically. And love the image of you standing in the bath.
That really does sound like a revolting chore EC, ew. You are very generous to still love the responsible criminals! Thanks you for you kind words about my recovery, I’d love it to be a bit more dramatic, hopefully starting today 🙂
Love all the shots. Your silver eyes must come to me after because all they do is to poke wholes in the fruit.must be hungry after their long flight. I have often wondered why they do such long hauls. The same as the water birds over the equator
Keep up your high spirits and enjoy the isolation so you don’t over spend your energ.🦋 reiki is on its way.
There have been other years when there have been lots of holes poked in the fruit, I’m not sure why it’s so different this year. The long migrations really are fascinating, especially when they’d appear to have plenty of food in either place. Many are related to altitude or weather, which I can definitely relate to! Thank you for your kindness about my slow and hopefully steady recovery, Kim
Beautiful photos and stunning little birds who really do make you smile. Get better and definitely the best way to recuperate is watching our unique and precious feathered friends enjoying life in their natural world.
Thank you so much Barbara, you are absolutely right about how watching our ‘feathered friends enjoying life’ helps to lift the spirits
Aren’t they just perfect little creatures! Every time I see one of your photos, Kim, my fingers are itching to paint. So glad you’re well enough to enjoy these precious moments. Take care, Syndy
Hi Syndy, they really are lovely little birds. Let me know if there’s ever one of my images you’d like to paint so I can give written permission. It was fun to be able to use the camera again, even in such odd circumstances, thank you, Kim 🙂