Sunday, March 13, 2011

Brown Honeyeater

Nearly every morning before it is light, one of these little birds starts singing in my yard. Brown Honeyeaters (Lichmera indistincta) are small - only 12-16cms - and easier to hear than see. However, the ones that are in my yard seem to be used to me and as long as I make gentle noises and let them know I am coming down their way they let me get quite close. This one was sitting in one of the Callistemon trees which is an Australian native tree. It was preening first one side then the other and finished up by reaching right over its back and catching its tail and giving that a good preen as well.
This little video has a Brown Honeyeater singing in one of the trees.

For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
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13 comments:

  1. Kah-Wai LinMarch 13, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    You have a nice blog! I would love to follow up!

    Kah Wai
    http://kwbirding.blogspot.com/

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  2. LarryMarch 14, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    Really cool Mick! Great shots f the Brown Honeyeater! This bird obviously trusts you to allow you to get that close and be relaxed enough to preen for you.

    I love that last shot where it looks like it is saying "well, what do you think of that?"

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  3. gwenMarch 14, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    How wonderful they let you so close.

    Thanks for adding the video, it was great to hear it sing.

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  4. mickMarch 14, 2011 at 5:01 AM

    Thanks for commenting Kah-Wai Lin, Larry and gwendolen. I certainly enjoy having these birds in my yard and its even better that they let me get close.

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  5. Phil SladeMarch 14, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Mick if those guys are only 12cms I think those photographs are very, very good but showing a bit of fieldcraft by aproaching quietly is essentail, just as you say.

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  6. mickMarch 14, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Hi Phil, last year I invested in a nice big lens! A Sigma 150-500 and it has certainly made things a lot easier.

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  7. Mike B. @ slugyard.comMarch 14, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Interesting mark behind the eye- I wonder where that comes from?

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  8. mickMarch 14, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Hi Mike, if you mean that little yellow patch at the back of the eye then that is one of the ways to ID this bird.

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  9. RebeccaMarch 15, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    12cm - That is a tiny bird-great photos! Thanks for including the video also!

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  10. mickMarch 15, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    Thanks Rebecca.

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  11. AprilMarch 15, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    Great pictures of this wonderful little bird. What a nice start to the day it must be when you hear the Honeyeater's beautiful song.

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  12. mickMarch 15, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    Hi April, I do enjoy hearing it - especially before anything else is making any noise.

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  13. Amila KanchanaMarch 24, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    HI Mick,Neat job with the Honey eater! He has looks of our Sunbirds.

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