April (2020) birds in the garden

I chose this photo from quite a few because I like (as you will be aware) when the bird looks right at the lens. Here a rainbow lorikeet was taking a peek between sips of nectar from the flowerettes of the unbella tree. A close examination of the flowerettes reveals the droplets of nectar glistening in the light. 

This little brown thornbill is one of a pair which would flit across the garden in the morning from east to west, and return on the same route from west to east in the afternoon. Their distinct and quite loud chitter allows them to be located with patience. Fortunately they love bathing.

What would a garden portfolio be without a laughing kookaburra? This one was perched in a frangipani - it is a good secluded spot and allows great viewing from our front verandah for photos (as you can see).

I mentioned above there was a pair of brown thornbills. I have included another photo of a single next because I like that it shows the beak open in mid-chitter and their preference of the smaller hanging bird bath that hangs higher but quite near the larger one in the earlier photo in this post. I have also included a second photo here, again showing the bird on the right with its bill open as it chitters message to the other more active one just out of its bath and thus slightly blurred.

And this is what they look like on video (20 secs) - here you will see the extent to which they are active and looking out for each other, hence the need for patience to capture them IF they be still!

I realised after reviewing the videos, just how good they can be for observing and capturing the behaviours of the birds (even their stillness at times). I have a "project" in mind down the track at some point, to take more videos more often, rather than just rely on photos. As I am writing this in 2021, it is safe to say the project remains "down the track" 😏!

This lewin's honeyeater is showing a yellow forehead from the pollen while feasting in the red flower of the bromiliad in the foreground. The second photo is the same, nice clean bird after a bath!

Like the earlier video, this one (24 secs) offers another clear sense of how skittish birds are when they feel "exposed". This one also shows you how the bird ended up so nice and clean 😀.