There’s a secret world that thrives amongst the Kangaroo Paw forests at Cranbourne botanical gardens.
Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) – juvenile
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 1600
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These tiny honeyeaters flitted amongst the Kangaroo Paws, quickly dipping their long de-curved bills into the blossoms to collect nectar with their brush-tipped tongues. I particularly like the muted colours of young Eastern Spinebills. They are about 16cm from the tip of their tails to the tip of their bills, and they weigh a tiny 11g.
Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) – juvenile
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 1600
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There were two juvenile spinebills foraging among the Kangaroo Paws which is great as Eastern Spinebills lay two eggs and it means that both of them successfully fledged. I am a huge fan of Kangaroo Paws and have finally planted a few in my garden, where they are visited each day by the local spinebills.
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Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) – male
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 400
Just in case you aren’t sure what an adult Eastern Spinebill looks like, here’s one I prepared earlier. The adult birds are vibrantly coloured, especially the males. They have beautiful russet markings, contrasting white underparts, and bright red eyes.
Happy birding
Kim
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As always you have AMAZING photos and I love how much we get to learn along with your photos!
Thank you Sherry. I love seeing the birds so close up, there’s always something new to learn
I never would have picked those juvies as ESs. Good to know!
I hope you see lots of them soon Lilla, they are such beautiful little birds
Hehe here’s one I prepared earlier 😂
Very sweet pics, I’m glad you have kangaroo paw (a beautiful plant) in your garden now to attract the birds 😊
Maybe I should have made that the title. I’m super pleased about the kangaroo paw, and I have a beautiful pair of newlyweds to thank for it 🙂
Beautiful Kim love Eve xx
How lovely to hear from you Eve xo
Magnificent photography, Kim. I’ve been so busy on other matters recently that I haven’t been out birding for ages – you show me here what I am missing. Inspirational!
Oh no! You must be missing birding. I hope you get to be out and about soon, and that you see and hear many species.
A time when red-eye, isn’t a photographic no no.
I love that a secret world exists in parallel with ours and that small creatures can survive and thrive in it. That thought brightens my darkest hours.
And thank you so much for shining a light on a part of that world.
So true! About the eyes and the secret worlds. There is so much we don’t know. I hope you’re not having too many dark hours EC, actually, I hope you’re not having any dark hours.
Love your work Kim.
Thank you Warren. I just went on line and found some of your images, beaut sunsets/rises and birds. I especially love that cisticola shot