lirralirra

It has been a remarkable week at the birdbath, including numerous visits from this juvenile Eastern Spinebill.

Do you ever find that nature offers something wonderful just when you need it most? It happened to me on Boxing Day when out of the blue many birds decided it was time to visit my birdbaths, it was just what I needed.

I think this youngster looks a little clumsy in the photograph above, as though it isn’t quite sure what to do with its tail as it hurries towards the water.

Eastern Spinebills are arguably Australia’s prettiest little honeyeater. Their long, decurved bill makes them look quite graceful.

I grabbed a few moments to hide beneath my fabric hide to watch these little beauties. I’ve always found that spending time in nature is deeply restorative. I can’t meditate, just can’t, not even for a few moments, but I can immerse myself in nature for hours.

Juvenile Eastern Spinebills have much softer colouring than they will as adults. Along with their muted colours they have brownish eyes and a yellowish base to their lower bill.

The spinebill above is an adult male, the females have a grey crown rather than black. Its marking are far more distinct than the juveniles, though the grey under-feathers are only showing as it has just bathed. It has a chestnut nape, orange underparts, a white throat and upper breast. Its bill is completely black and its eye is bright red. A spinebill image of mine was accepted into an international competition a few years ago where a vigilant (but not bird-savvy) steward changed its name to ‘Spoonbill’.

According to my weather station, the temperature in my garden reached 41.7 degrees Celsius today, or 107 degrees Fahrenheit – it was pretty warm. I kept the birdbaths topped up and put the soaker hoses on for a couple of hours.

Although most visitors to lirralirra are Aussies my analytics page shows that each week there are many visitors from countries all over the planet. It’s amazing to see country names pop up as visitors check in; I wonder about you all and hope that life is treating you well.

Thinking of you and wishing you health, happiness and heaps of birdsong, happy birding, Kim

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