There is something joyous about the way Grey Fantails forage in the garden, diving and swooping to catch flying insects on the wing.
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 1600, focal length 540mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
It’s been especially funny to watch them recently as the youngsters frequently fly after large bugs and miss with a resounding clack of their bills. But most fascinating at the moment is the reappearance of a Grey Fantail sub-species that doesn’t usually live in this area. It’s the ssp albicauda which is usually found in central Australia. I haven’t been able to photograph it yet so have shared my favourite juvenile Grey Fantail shot to finish up 2022.
An albicauda visited years ago too, which I was helped to identify by two Birdlife Australia surveyors. They are strikingly different as their tail feathers are significantly whiter. Also they forage much lower to the ground than the ssp albiscapa which is the usual species here. I’m assuming this is because the habitat in central Australia is typically more desert-like, with lower trees, so flying insects are closer to the ground. This makes the visiting fantail truly beautiful to watch as its acrobatic twists and turns can be watched at eye level, or even looking down on them.
Two parts of today’s story have made me think about the coming year. Today is the last day of 2022 and we often wish each other health and happiness for the coming year. I’d like to add two lessons that the fantails have shared with me. Let’s also wish each other perseverance when things are tricky; if the juvenile fantails gave up when they missed their prey they’d go pretty hungry, there’s no other way they’ll get what they need. And let’s also wish each other adventures; not only is the albicauda experiencing a new habitat with different birds but it’s bringing joy as it does so.
So, I wish you health, happiness, perseverance and adventures for the coming year, all liberally sprinkled with birdsong.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Prints and gifts Lirralirra Shop
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
What a lovely New Years message and a gorgeous image 💛⭐️
Happy new year!
As I’m reading your message I’m watching a blackbird who I’m pretty sure has a new year’s resolution to mess up the garden as much as possible. It’s pretty funny to watch. Wishing you an absolutely wonderful 2023 xo
Dear Kim
Wishing you a year ahead full of new bird insights and good health. Thankyou too for continuing to delight us with feathered joy.
Alison
Thanks heaps Alison for all your beaut comments, all the very best for the coming year, Kim
Thank you so much for the feathered enchantment you present us with week after week. I am so grateful to you, and for the beauty you share. I love your New Year wishes – and would add a generous splash of love and laughter to the mix.
Happy New Year.
Definitely love and laughter too! Lots of it, good idea, liberally sprinkled with kindness.
A world liberally sprinkled with birdsong is a beautiful place to be and if everyone stopped for a moment each day and connected with all that is amazing, beautiful and unique in our natural world they would indeed by living and enjoying life on this planet. Embracing nature and embarking on lots of new and exciting adnentures will bring much happiness and definitely keep us healthy in mind, body and spirit.
The gift of perseverance is one from which we will all absolutely benefit in so many ways and I would like to add resilience and our feathered friends and their animal mates definitely can show us how.
Kim your beautiful photographs and stories bring so much happiness and joy each time your newsletter arrives in the mail. One email I cannot wait to open.
Hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and found something special under your Christmas tree and I wish you a safe, healthy, happy, prosperous, adventurous and magical 2023.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
There is so much we can, and should, learn from animals isn’t there! Thanks heaps for your kind words Barbara, and insightful comments and quotes, they are much appreciated, Kim
WOW! That’s an amazingly nice capture! I’ve been trying to get a decent picture of these nice creatures but unfortunately without suc6….yet… 🙂
Kind regrads, Paul
Thanks Paul. It’s one of my favourites, I have a big print of it and just love the detail of it’s feathers and expression. I hope you get the shot you’re after really soon!