This is my response to the Ragtag Daily Prompt —  Smorgasbord.

Dear Readers, if you would like to participate in the Ragtag Daily Prompt, just click on the hyperlink above and ‘Follow’ the Ragtag Community.  It comes out daily obviously.  Anyone can participate, and it’s fun.  Be creative with words, photos or both.  It is your choice.

Now, I have been a bit wordy of late, so it’s a time for a few photos.  Here is a small smorgasbord of birds that I’ve shared the love with recently.

There have been so many birds visiting our yard lately.  They come down from the surrounding mountains to over-winter in the valley.  Often I am unable to see them, or I can just see a silhouette, but their calls have been an endless stream of joyous bells and peeps.

In the photo below, a juvenile Crimson Rosella helps itself to the ornamental crab apples in our front yard.  The tree has now lost its leaves but there are still crab apples on it, which the birds will enjoy over the coming months.  This photo was taken through the front window so it is a little out of focus.

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We finally got a shot of this little Eastern Spinebill coming in for the pineapple sage in the backyard.  This plant is shutting down for Winter, but our Wee Jasper Spider Flower (an endangered species) has many flowers about to burst open.  The Wee Jasper Spider flower is always a hit with the nectar feeding birds.

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If you live in the Canberra area (Australia), then you should definitely get yourself down to the Australian National Botanic Gardens.  There is a great variety of birds there at the moment.  You will need binoculars though, because they spend a lot of time in the tree tops.  Except for this little one.  This is the first time we’ve seen a Bassian Thrush.  Not surprising really – they are so well camouflaged as they forage on the forest floor.  This one was in the rain-forest gully but visitors passing by were oblivious to its presence.  Well spotted hawk-eyed hubby!

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The New Holland Honeyeaters were putting on quite a show as they zoomed from grevillea to grevillea feasting on the flowers.  I think this one was grandstanding for the ladies.  Courtship is in full swing at the moment, so it is an excellent time to get out and see the birds.

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What?  Sorry Mr or Mrs Magpie, but the cafe is closed.  The speckling on the breast indicates that this is an immature magpie.  Australian magpies are not related to the magpies found in other parts of the world.

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This adult Crimson Rosella finishes its meal with a drink.

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I hope you enjoyed this “birds-eye” experience (woops, sorry another mum-joke for the Aussies out there).

Kind Regards
Tracy

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42 thoughts on “Smorgasbird – I Love My Birds”

  1. Wonderful smorgasbird! Great play on words. I love the birds, yours are so very different from what we see in our yard. Great to be introduced to some new ones.

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Transmutation. The birds in my photos are all native to Australia and do not migrate to other parts of the world. The Australian magpie, for example, is not related to the magpies you see in Asia or Europe, but is a completely different species. But the similar name is very confusing. 🙂

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      1. I was speaking of birds in general more from a European view. I am not familiar with Australia which is far away. Thanks for your clarifying answer. Greetings from Berlin @ Ulli

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      3. Although I did some ornithological excursions over the years I am just an amateur in this field. And making photos of birds in free nature is difficult and time-consuming without guarantee for any success. So my question would be where do you want to make photos? Even in Europe birds differ from country to country. But storks for example everywhere in Europe in Spring and Summer and living near and with humans and not so difficult to photograph. Cranes can also be good observed during their annual migrations at certain rest-places in Autumn for example at the Baltic Sea. Other birds may also break in Austria, Neusiedler See, or Gibraltar before passing the Mediterranean Sea. So for making good photos you usually need a guide who knows the right places. Hope this is of some help. @ Ulli

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  3. Well done getting a photo of the Eastern Spinebill- I know it’s not easy. I had to research Wee Jasper Spider flower as I hadn’t heard of it before…looks like a terrific plant for the birds in the winter.

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    1. We got lucky with the spinebill, Jane. 🙂

      Despite being endangered, the Wee Jasper Spider Flower is a very hardy plant. They are very hard to come by. I have another one in a punnet waiting to be planted out into the bigger yard to which the dogs only have occasional visitation rights. I think they would grow well in your area. If I find another one, would you like me to get it for you? I think they would travel okay in the post for a couple of days.

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      1. That’s so kind of you, Tracy. I had another look online, and I think it will grow too big to fit in my garden. I would love to have one but I’ve planted all my bigger plants and am now looking for smaller things to fill up small spaces. Your gesture is very, very much appreciated. Btw I saw a Canberra Bells Correa at a nursery on my way home from Sydney and I had to reject it too, because I thought it would be too big! 😢

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  4. Such pretty pictures! I recently travelled to the north of India in the forests of Uttarakhand. So many species of birds; it’s amazing to wake up to those sounds and colors. You don’t experience much of that in city life.

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      1. That’s very lucky of you! We don’t have much in the city besides crows, sparrows and pigeons. That’s why I love the monsoons when I get to go trekking in the mountains.

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  5. Lovely photographs of the birds Tracy, what a treat to see a crimson rosella in your own garden! 😃

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      1. Thanks, Tracy. In a few more years, I hope to have the flexibility to travel for months at a time. I recognize that trying to see Australia in a week or two is like trying to do the same thing in the US. And I’ve learned over the years, if the flight is 8 hours or more, don’t rush the trip!

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      1. I do! Though ours normally don’t look as beautifully exotic and colourful as yours. I’m currently deeply in love with a couple of blue titmouse that I’m feeding and I’m expecting to see their offspring too. 😄

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  13. This is my kind of feast! Beautiful photographs. The corellas/parrots in your region are so different to the ones in the West. I loved visiting the Australian National Botanic Gardens. I took some really nice pics there. Will see if I can find them.

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