Tuesday, May 15, 2012

White-cheeked Honeyeaters

This post is for World Bird Wednesday.

I stopped at the Seary's creek picnic area the other day.  It was a lovely warm afternoon and there were a couple of people swimming in the creek.  They said that there was a little bird nesting down close to the water on the far side of the creek. It was a great place for photos but none of the ones I took that afternoon were what I had hoped for.  However, it was worth an extra trip there the next day and this time I took my big lens and a good steady tripod.
Seary's Creek comes out of the Great Sandy National Park and eventually flows out into the bay.  The picnic area is about half way between Cooloola Cove and Rainbow Beach and has tables set out under the trees and a well-made board walk along a portion of the creek.  Like all the other streams that come out of this area the water is deeply stained with tannin from the vegetation in and around the creek.  With the sunlight on the water it is a deep red color.  However, with the light behind you it can also reflect the deep blue of the sky.

This photo shows the blue of the water and the bird's nest in the middle of the photo low down between the two trees.  It was well hidden in among the low growing bushes and reeds.

(I need to put a reminder here that I live in SE Queensland, Australia and  right now it is late autumn/early winter.  Night time temperatures have been around 10 degrees Celcius and day time temperatures about 25 degrees C.  This converts to 50 - 77 Fahrenheit.  Since living here I have had to remember that many or most of the bush birds breed and nest at this time of the year and NOT in the heat of spring/summer!)
The birds were White-cheeked Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris nigra).  When we first got there one of the adults was sitting on the nest but after a while it flew off and both adults started bringing in food to the young ones.  In the second photo the young birds show as just a blob of white in the bottom  of the nest.

The sun shining directly on the bird's feathers made the dark colors look more brown than black.  Both birds came in and perched on one of the branches above the nest before hopping quickly down to the nest itself.  At times they had a very good careful look over the creek to where I was standing.  


41 comments:

  1. That is a great series of photos you were very lucky to get them on the nest.

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  2. nesting in fall instead of spring/summer. interesting! and gorgeous birds!

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  3. Hi Mick
    lovely post and I am surprised at the birds breeding now, but it sort of makes sense.
    Learn something every day, eh?
    Cheers
    Denis

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  4. Beautiful bird and great tour of your area. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. The honey eaters are beautiful! And I loved seeing that nest.

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  6. Beautiful photos and a stunning looking bird!!

    ps perhaps you can help me...I have a piper in my blog today but I dont know the full name...but I see that you have the similar piper in your header ds /Susanne

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  7. Excellent shots! I love the bird shots but the images of the water and reflections are also quite lovely!

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  8. stunning shots Mick. The bird seemed very shy to start with. But then showed of. Love it.

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  9. What a beautiful series of pictures. The idea that you were able to capture the bird on the nest is awesome.Love the name White-cheeked Honeyeater. The reflections of the trees in the water are impressive. This is a lovely spot to go with the camera. genie

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  10. Great serie and a perfect for WBW!
    I have never seen this bird before!

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  11. Great series of wonderful shot!
    What a beautiful bird.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Mette

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  12. Beautiful bird, I love its pretty colors too. Awesome photos!

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  13. Beautiful bird!

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  14. Wonderful captures Mick, fantastic detail!

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  15. What a beautiful bird and you captured so well. Have a great day!

    Shantana

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  16. How beautiful the sky reflections in the tannin-coloured water. Great shots of the white-faced honey-eater on the nest! Beautiful photos you got; glad you went back! Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Great pictures you show.
    Wishing you a good day.
    Hanne Bente / hbt.finus.dk

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  18. Beautiful pictures!
    What a great experience for you!

    Thanks for sharing

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  19. Beautiful bird, the colors on it are lovely.

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  20. The white-cheeked homey eater is a lovely looking bird, great photos!

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  21. Hi there - what a great set of pictures.

    A long lens and a steady tripod - that sounds like a good recipe!

    I think my pigeon is looking over its shoulder because it has just noticed me!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  22. Wow, that is one I haven't seen yet Mick. We maily have the New Holland's.

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  23. Really neat images and the bird is a wonderful species to have shared~

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  24. Love the reflection in the first few photos, and the birds are gorgeous! Fantastic shot!

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  25. Those Honeyeaters are very cool! Nice shots!

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  26. Mick, I love the shots....the first one of the water is quite similiar to some of the water found here. It has that brown stain or color to it due to a tree that grows near our creeks. Plus the Honeyeaters are a treat to see:)

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  27. Beautiful shots!! So great to see them nesting and it's so cool to see the birds from all over the world and how they live. Thanks for your WBW!!

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  28. Lovely little birds and I appreciate the interesting background information. :)

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  29. Striking colour and design contrasts in this little feathered character! Delightful photos!

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  30. Such interesting birds! In Florida, sometimes the slow-moving water looks like tea, but I've never seen such a depth of color as in your photos.

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  31. wow - you got a wonderful series of the Honeyeater and some nice ones of the nature around! Thanks for sharing.

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  32. Wonderful birds and interesting nature notes -- something I wouldn't have ever guessed (about the nesting in fall).... I was mesmerized by the Fall reflections in the water!

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  33. Mick, I was enjoying the serene reflection shots when your cool Honeyeater emerged. It is interesting that they are nesting now.
    Super post!

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  34. Awesome place and great bird shots!!

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  35. That's a very beautiful bird, amazing markings on it!

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  36. It was delightful going with you on the search, and how very rewarding. Your photos are fantastic!

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  37. It is lovely to see and read about the various birds on a different continent.

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