Glowing in the gloaming

I’ve been crazily busy but am always delighted to be distracted by the birds in my garden.

Sometimes these sweet honeyeaters look very streamlined, but not when they’re shaking their feathers after a dip in the birdbath. This bird looks almost comically fluffy as it shows off its bright yellow wing patch. If you look closely you’ll be able to see a glimpse of the yellow tail feathers. They are striking looking birds, quite dapper with their black and white plumage, and even a black and white eye.

New Holland Honeyeaters live across the southern part of Australia from around Perth to around Brisbane, including Tasmania. They have long, brush-tipped tongues, typical of honeyeaters, that they use to gather nectar. They particularly like flowers like banksias and grevilleas. They are about 18cm with much of that length taken up with their long tail and bill.

Victorians are at the start of a five day lock down. Let’s hope it works as well as it has in other states. I’m thinking I’ll try to share images on my facebook page over the next few days showing 1-5 birds – hopefully I’ll have some in my catalogues, failing that I’ll be lurking in the garden hoping to find the appropriate number of birds for the day of lockdown.

Take care out there, happy birding, Kim

~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography