Renaissance

As I was zooming around the fruit trees on the mower, I noticed some tiny buds starting to appear on the fig tree (that was after I managed to get bogged, and after I was rescued by 2nd-daughter-superwoman).

 

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 800

 

The colours in this week’s image remind me of Peter Paul Rubens’ paintings and the exhibition that enthralled me (a scarily long time ago).

Silvereyes are tiny birds weighing about 11g and measuring about 11cm. They are easily recognisable by their colouring, especially the stark white ring of feathers around their eyes. Photographically it can be tricky to capture detail in the eye-ring feathers as it is easy for them to be over-exposed. I especially like the olive-green colouring on their head and wings, and the way their rufous flanks are set off by their pale tummies. Silvereyes from different areas around Australia have different colouring including WA birds having yellowish-olive backs while others have grey. It’s good to take a close look at Silvereyes as even regular garden visitors can be from different areas with birds from eastern Australia often migrating around the countryside.

Silvereyes can be seen singly, in pairs or in flocks of varying sizes. They eat insects, fruit and nectar. They have a high pitched, whiny kind of call that can sometimes sound like the whinny of a tiny horse, well that sounds a bit daft but it does sound that way to me.

Hopefully this will be a good year for figs, and a good year for Silvereyes.

Happy birding

Kim

 

PS  my apologies for being so far behind responding to comments, I always enjoy reading your comments and plan to write back soon

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