This exquisitely beautiful Golden Whistler has been calling in my garden, a lot. Listening to his song has given me a comforting few moments each day that magically make the troubles seem a little lighter.
1/1000, f/4.0, ISO 4000
Canon R5, Canon 600mm f/4 L IS USM
I absolutely adore this photograph. This Golden Whistler was quietly preening when it glanced towards me. The light was low, you might have noticed the high ISO, which has made the shot perfect to my mind. The eye contact is sweet, the fluff of feathers around the bird are catching the light beautifully, and the colours are sublime.
These birds about the same size as a sparrow, a little lighter in weight and a little longer in length. The visual similarities end there. The Golden Whistler’s colouring is a spectacular blend of golden yellow, olive-greens, deep black, soft greys and bright white. Shivers of loveliness.
Wishing you a peaceful and joyous long weekend, filled with happiness and birdsong, Kim
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The Golden Whistler
Golden bird whose golden voice,
When the summer days wax long —
Cheery optimist from choice —
Bids the feathered world rejoice
With full many a varied song
From the tree-tops flinging free
Golden bursts of melody.
Golden notes for golden hours —
Where the sunlit waters gleam,
And the fragrant wattle flow’rs
Swoon in scented, golden show’rs
To the bosom of the stream
Singing, swinging, fluting high;
None so gay, so glad as I.
Golden in the dawn’s first hush
Sounds my matin, loud and long,
With a sweet, spontaneous rush,
Vying with harmonious thrush
For the bushland’s crown of song.
As the golden eve grows dim,
Sounds my joyous vesper hymn.
Golden minstrel, justly famed,
Greeted e’er with grateful words;
Long ere this my song has shamed
Him who fatuously named
This a land of songless birds.
Seek you solace; seek you balm;
Hearken to my golden psalm.
C J Dennis
Happy Easter and perfect opportunity to enjoy the magic world of our beautiful, precious feathered friends and you never know when you look and listen you might be in the company of this gorgeous, little Golden Whistler.
That is seriously beautiful Barbara, and not a poem I was familiar with. A bird poem that I’ve always loved is The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy. It’s a faster world now than when people took the time to write from their hearts.