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Even the drizzle couldn’t straighten my smile as I photographed this sensational Lewin’s Honeyeater as it sipped nectar from the mid-winter blossoms on the weeping apricot.

I think of Lewin’s Honeyeaters as ‘crescent moon’ birds due to their striking yellow ear patch. Their feathers range through various greens and greys, they have a yellow gape and adults have a blue iris. This honeyeater didn’t spend long at the top of the weeping apricot before ducking into the tangle of branches.

I was photographing this honeyeater through a window about 15-20 metres from the tree. The bird wasn’t disturbed but did glance towards me occasionally – birds are very sensitive to their surroundings.

Can you spot the sepal caught in the honeyeater’s bill? There are a few raindrops in the pink blossom shots, the drops on the same focal plane as the Lewin’s Honeyeater are clear while other drops are fuzzier blobs.

The first inkling I get that Lewin’s Honeyeaters are visiting is usually the sound of their loud ‘rapid fire’ call. They generally eat small fruits but also take insects and nectar.

Sometimes they briefly visit my bird baths.

Young Lewin’s Honeyeaters have brown irises and the beautiful little one above has an iris which has started to turn blue.

Happy birding, Kim

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