Sunday, May 15, 2011

Red-backed Fairy-Wren

I had walked right along the forest track without seeing or hearing any birds except way up in the canopy of the trees. I stopped at the end of the track close to the car park - and still nothing. So I got in the car and started the engine - then decided to look at the photos in the camera that I had taken out on the sand bank. Finally, I put the camera down and looked around before I began to back out and drive off. There - sitting just a few meters from the car and quite unafraid of the engine noise, were two Red-backed Fairy-Wrens (Melurus melanocephalus). They were sitting on a small branch that poked out from among the bracken fern and preening. All I had to do was open the window and point the camera out and take some photos. I am not sure if they were females or males in eclipse plumage. The books say that they are very similar. I guess if I spent as much time looking at "bush" birds as I do at shorebirds I would eventually get better at some of the finer points of ID. If anyone reading this knows - then please let me know.
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
Posted by at
Labels:

18 comments:

  1. Kah-Wai LinMay 15, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Lovely capture! They are cute!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amila KanchanaMay 15, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    A cute pair!

    ReplyDelete
  3. mickMay 15, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Thanks for commenting Amila Kanchana, and Kah-Wai Lin.

    ReplyDelete
  4. NatureFootstepMay 15, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    how sweet. :) And such fine birds.

    I am surprised you was a long walk and found nothing. It seem to be so many birds down there. What you describe is what usually happens here. And, really, sometimes I wodner if it is worth it. :( But, then, someone shows up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. gwenMay 15, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    Aww, look at them sitting there together. Lovely shot, Mike.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Modesto ViegasMay 15, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Good series!

    ReplyDelete
  7. TexWisGirlMay 15, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    they're so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. mickMay 16, 2011 at 5:22 AM

    Thanks for commenting NatureFootstep, Gwendolen, Modesto Viegas, and Texwisgirl.
    I was walking the forest track very early in the morning and it might have been a bit too early for birds to be visible down under the tree canopy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. LarryMay 16, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    These are great shots of the Fairy Wrens Mick! Sorry I can't help with the ID but I think you are fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph these little cuties from such close range!

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownMay 16, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Thanks for sharing the photos. I even busted out my Birds of Australia to study up on them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. mickMay 16, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Hi Larry, it was a very lucky chance that had these two come and roost so close to the car. Apparently a car can make a good bird hide!
    Hi BirdingisFun - I like it that you have a book of Aussie birds!

    ReplyDelete
  12. KellyMay 16, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    ...what a sweet bird...and what a perfect name! I love it. Glad you looked up as you were pulling out...lovely photos.

    ReplyDelete
  13. BirdingMaineMay 16, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Adorable captures Mick!

    ReplyDelete
  14. mickMay 17, 2011 at 4:44 AM

    Thanks for commenting Kelly and BirdingMaine.

    ReplyDelete
  15. GouldiaeMay 17, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    G'day Mick,
    See, I've been telling you for years how sweet the bush birds are. Nice captures - chance encounters are often the best, hey?
    Gouldiae

    ReplyDelete
  16. mickMay 17, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Hi Gouldiae, I agree they are really nice little birds - BUT - a good bit harder to find than hundreds and even thousands of shorebirds!

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownMay 20, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    So VERY cute! Awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sallie (FullTime-Life)May 24, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    They're such sweet little guys (or gals)! Adorable birds. Glad you waited a while in the car.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)