It may seem strange to look to these tiny Eastern Spinebills for inspiration, but these are strange times.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 1000
Eastern Spinebills measure about 15cm from the tip of their bill to the tip of their tail, and they weigh about 11g. There are a pair who regularly visit the correa blossoms outside my window. Even when I’ve seen them fly in, so I know they’re there, they can be tricky to spot as they flit from flower to flower.
Like other honeyeaters they use their brush-tipped tongue to extract nectar. In the image above you can just see the tip of this bird’s tongue. The colour pattern of Eastern Spinebills is an exquisite blend of warm buff and rufous, with white and grey-black, all set off by their red irises. I once felt the need to slightly reduce the saturation in the eye of a spinebill image that was entered in an international competition as I was concerned the judges may have thought I’d over-saturated the actual colour.
Somehow these little birds, and their tiny cousins like the fairywrens and thornbills, cope with weather extremes that see me scurrying for cover. They cope with everything from hailstorms to heatwaves and yet they have no warm coats, no heaters, no air-conditioners. They are tougher than they look.
Things are difficult in most places across the planet at the moment. Here in Melbourne we’re in Stage 4 lockdown which means staying within 5km of home, only heading out for essential reasons, only exercising outside the home for an hour a day, along with a curfew from 8pm to 5am. I’m grateful that our government is taking it seriously as it’s heart-wrenching to see the number of cases rising. My heart goes out to everyone affected, and to the health workers, who as our premier says are our last line of defence, we are the first. Analytical data shows that visitors to lirralirra come from scores of countries across the world – wherever you are please know that I’m thinking of you, please stay safe.
Take care out there, happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
what incredible detail can be seen in this beautiful image! from the lighter tip of the beak to the defined feathers and even reflection in the eye…Love it.
Thanks heaps Josie. I love capturing detail, especially of our small birds
Its great to go back over your photos. We have a family that visit our eremophilas- punctually- every four hours. Their heads get coated in pollen for the next plant. Sadly we no longer get the Crescent Honeyeaters
That’s so good to hear Togram, thank you. Shame about the crescents, I’ve not seen one here at all
I’m sure that Eastern Spinebill is sitting right beside me. Your beautiful photo captures such amazing colour and texture of the feathers.
Aw, what a beaut comment Margot, thank you!
One of our favourites too, a lovely shot post bathing🥰
Those wet tummy feathers are a definite give away 🙂
Gorgeous photo of one of my favourite birds, Kim! I have a pair of these that visit my Yellow Kangaroo Paw. They sit outside my kitchen window in an Apricot tree (which has lost all its leaves)singing away then dive into the garden until a territorial Wattle bird comes and chases them away.
I must go and buy a Correa.
You’ve painted such a clear picture Marg that I feel as though I’m watching it with you, beautiful! And I must plant some more kangaroo paw…
PS. I am thrilled that you can continue to revel in birds at home. Tiny little feathered sanity aids
I’m lucky with that EC, very lucky. A White-faced Heron has been visiting recently and they’re fascinating to watch
Stunning!
Thanks Stephen!
Love the Eastern Spinebill – though he/she looks a tad dishevelled. We have a pair who regularly visit the grevilleas. They are almost always too fast for me to capture them, but I love their call.
You stay safe too please. You matter to people you may never meet in the flesh.
Thank you EC. The spinebill was having an after-bath ruffle of its feathers so the sleek look was definitely missing. I need to plant more grevilleas, hopefully the nurseries will deliver…
As always, a lovely story to go with your beautiful photo, Kim!
Thank you so much Gai 🙂