Floods and Fairy-Wrens

These first two photos were taken during one of the big floods we had at the end of January and into February. This water is running into Carland Creek and a few hours before this had been over the road. There had been a fire go through the area a while ago and the burnt bushes are Hakea. In the second photo I focused my camera on the bushes and seed pods which made an interesting pattern in front of the flooded gully.

I see Fairy-Wrens quite frequently but like most wrens they seldom sit still to have their photos taken! I saw these Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus) beside the road out at Inskip Point very early in the morning. The male is all black down the front. It looked as if he had been ruffling the feathers on top of her head.

 They didn't stay sitting still together for long. The female flew off deeper among the branches where I couldn't see clearly enough to photograph her again but the male flew around from branch to branch. First he had a good preen then he gave me good views of his colorful side and back feathers. I am always intrigued by how the red on his back shows different shades in different light.

For more photos from around the world visit Our World Tuesday 

and for more bird photos visit Wild Bird Wednesday.