Monday, September 14, 2009

Flowers for Honeyeaters

This beautiful tree is in full flower right now down the back of my garden. I planted it nearly six years ago and it is the biggest of all the trees in my yard. It is a Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia chrysantha) and certainly makes a beautiful show every year. However, it also drops its seeds far and wide and I will spend the next few months pulling out seedlings from all around the back yard. I was certainly not told about this when it was recommended to me in a nursery. This photo is taken looking into my neighbour's back yard.
The honeyeaters have been enjoying the flowers too. These photos are of a juvenile Blue-faced Honeyeater. The blue on the face does not develop for some time and this one shows a green/brown color.
For more bird photographs visit the Bird Photography Weekly.

16 comments:

  1. Wow! That is one gorgeous tree...with equally gorgeous birds sipping the nectar! It must be wonderful to sit outside and enjoy such a sight.

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  2. Great shots of the Blue-faced Honeyeater Mick! I especially like the blow up of the first capture.

    Isn't it strange how the nurseries seldom tell you of the negative aspects of certain plants. We made the mistake of planting a Sapphire Dragon Tree. Beautiful tree when blooming, big mess afterward. Now we grow native plants.

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  3. Thanks for commenting Kelly and Larry. You're right about nurseries, Larry, and the way they definitely give only limited info. I have a mixture of local and exotic plants in my yard. However, I certainly don't intend to plant any more with such bad seeding habits.

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  4. Nice photos of the honeyeaters - and it is a beautiful tree on its own, too.

    I've had similar experiences with native plants (obedient plant comes immediately to mind) so no matter how careful you are, there's always a surprise factor at work in nature.

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  5. Hi Wren, you've got to be so careful with what you plant and introduce to a local environment. It can have such disastrous consequences.

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  6. Beautiful flowers on the tree and even better with it attracting Honey Eaters.

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  7. Masses of colour,though Mick.
    Pretty and impressive and feeding the Honeyeater.
    Not all bad, eh?
    Cheers
    dENIS

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  8. Enjoy spring, the Trumpet Tree and the honeyeaters, Mick.

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  9. What an interesting looking bird - his face looks naked now, but I bet he's going to be a beauty soon.

    That is an impressive tree - wow! Beautiful!

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  10. Lovely shots of the Honeyeater, Mick!

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  11. Thanks for your comments John, Denis, Gwendolen, Tranquility, and Bob and Cynthia.

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  12. What an interesting-looking bird. That bare patch is pretty wild.

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  13. Beautiful tree, beautiful flowers and a very beautiful bird.

    Such wonderful colours Mick - I'm really enjoying your new season over there (especially on a grey wet day as is over my way in the UK).

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  14. Hi Amy, thanks for commenting.

    Hi Tricia, now you understand the delight I took in your descriptions of spring over your way a few months ago!

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  15. What a beautiful tree and little bird. I read your post above about the camera. It made me smile as I have a new camera a Rebel xsi that my husband got me and I keep using my older less fancy Canon as I haven't studied all the functions on the new one yet... But health keeps me mostly to backyard birding so I don't need anything to involved... Michelle

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  16. Thanks Michelle - nice to know I'm not the only one who hasn't worked out all the things about a new camera!

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