These birds have pink beaks with black tips and blue eye rings.
Long tufts of yellow feathers stick out like whiskers on their cheeks.
My theory is that pollen from grevillea and bottlebrush shrubs collect in those spines to pollinate more spring flowers.
I’ve caught these beauties high in the; heard them before spotting.
A fresh lot of flowers excites them to sing together like a choir.
Strange, their whistles are a big mix of whining, shrilling, gurgling and high trilling. Sometimes they even sound mechanical.
Hard to see, moving branches betray where they are.
Communally, they work from the inside to outside of a shrub.
Heading out ten minutes later, I found a Spiny-cheek hanging off the camera, pecking at the lens.
No damage to the equipment, but it confirms that the birds are breeding again.
They also bravely chase off other birds from their egg-laying territory, including me - a very large old bird indeed.
With nectar as their staple diet, they need to drink frequently to wash down the sticky, sugar syrup.
Always near the birdbath, I can usually get a photo there.
Very nice post, great photos. I’m glad your camera was ok, LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Patrick. Camera all good, no scratches. It wasn't the first time that it has happened. The Grey Shrike-thrush has had a go at the lens as well! Cheers.
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