Monday, November 8, 2010

Variegated Fairy-wren

It is quite easy to see these little birds flitting through the bushes but since their preferred habitat is down in among the bushes it is not so easy to get photos of anything except the stems of bushes and a flash of color behind. This is only the second clear photo of a male I have even managed to get and there is still a piece of grass and a shadow across the bird. I have photographed a female several times - she doesn't seem to mind posing for the camera! It is only the mature males that have the brilliant coloring. The younger males are more like the females so there are always lots of little brown birds fluttering through the bushes.
Male Variegated Fairy-wren
Female Variegated Fairy-wren

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17 comments:

  1. Delightful Mick,
    Nuthin' wrong with them bush birds, hey?
    With regard to the piece of grass - thats how you see them, thats how you photograph them I reckon.
    Regards,
    Gouldiae.

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  2. Thanks Gouldiae but I'd like to get a photo posed as nicely as the one of the female. Ah well, another time, maybe.

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  3. The challenge of the 'perfect' photo is all part of the fun Mick - they're beautiful little birds and delightful to watch.
    regards
    Barbara

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  4. Thanks Birding is Fun.

    Thanks Barbara - good advice about the challenge of getting perfect photos. I think I need to develop more patience!

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  5. Keep at it and you'll get the perfect pose one day. Easier for TV experts. Did you see last night's Kakapo doco (Last Chance To See) on ABC1? Rare Black Robin would do anything for meal worms.

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  6. You did well Mick, especially with the female.

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  7. Thanks Tony and Mark. I missed that doco Tony, too busy chasing around the bay soon after 5am, unfortunately! Meal worms might well work better than just patience!

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  8. thats a sweet little bird you present today. You can still be happy for the photos, even if there are a little grass in front of it. At least it is not on the head. :)

    I have never seen a waxwing eating apple before so I was quite surprised. But there are almost no berries on the trees now, so it takes what it gets.

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  9. WOW, excellent photos Mick! The nit about the blade of grass, it happens. One day you will get a perfect pic. In the mean time, these are awesome!

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  10. Thanks NatureFootstep. It's very interesting about the birds eating whatever they can find - even the frozen apple.

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  11. A brilliant name for a brilliant bird Mick. We don't have anything like them over here, only perhaps Long-tailed tit that we also know as Flying Lollipop

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  12. Thanks BirdingMaine and Phil. I had a chuckle about the name - Flying Lollipop!

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  13. Incredibly beautiful shots Mick! I must get down there when I retire!

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  14. Hi Larry, it's a great place for retirement! Plenty of birds and not too many people!

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