I’ve injured a rib, who knew I couldn’t push a ride-on mower back into the garage by myself! There is so much work I should be doing but it’s too painful at the moment, so despite the chilly weather I sat outside with my camera.
It’s not often I see a Superb Fairywren’s tail feathers this clearly. We’ve had a few millimetres of rain this week so birds weren’t coming in to drink as much as usual. They were still coming in to bathe which is how I captured this little bird shaking droplets from his tail feathers.
Several species came to bathe but as I always let them drink and bathe before I photograph them I didn’t get many shots. It was a distant rabbit that caught my attention as it washed its face and ear. I know they are dreadful pests that have caused untold damage around the country. They regularly chew my plants too and I gave up on my veggie garden. Last year myxomatosis ripped through the local population but their numbers are gradually building again. It was hard to choose between all the photographs I took but I hope you enjoy the ones I picked. Please don’t scroll below this paragraph if you’ll be horrified by the sight of a rabbit!
This little series made me smile. I even like the way its whiskers have caught the light.
My apologies for sharing so many shots of a feral species but it was very cute to watch it cleaning itself in the sunlight.
Happy birding, Kim
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I am so sorry to hear about your rib and hope it heals quickly.
Love the aptly named superb fairy wren and its tail feathers.
It isn’t the rabbit’s fault it was introduced here and that it thrived. And they are cute. Myxo? Shudder. Not a good or kind death.
What fun it must have been to name the various species, though I wish I knew more of the indigenous names. I wonder how ‘lirralirra’ was originally chosen. I agree with everything you say about rabbits and myxo.
I love all your work Kim. I don’t usually comment but I hope you don’t get anti rabbit emails, you don’t deserve them and you have expressed your concern about the status of rabbits. Watching them with myxomatosis must have been horrible despite knowing the numbers must be controlled.
My favourite pictures- number 4 and 6!
The Superb Fairywren is superb, of course.
I haven’t had any anti rabbit emails yet, phew, and you are 100% right about seeing them with myxo. Thanks heaps for letting me know your favourites, Kim
Aww the bun is so cute! I super love the second pic of the bun. The fairy wren is stunning 🤩
Oh thank you Alyssa! I actually wanted to ask which rabbit picture people like best but couldn’t bear the thought of an onslaught of anti-rabbit emails (regardless of how justified they’d be!).