Thanks @WhistlingDuck. First time I've seen them. A friend showed me a burrow once but never saw the bird until this one shot past, with its mate. That was yesterday. Went back today with the camera :)
@Whistling Duck - my daughter walked out of a door into the yard and I saw this bird shoot past her and land in a shrubby tree right in front of her. Curious, I snuck a look and knew straight away it was a pardalote. My daughter literally had a camera in her hand so I told her to take photos and video. It ended up being the female, then the male came as well and they both just sat there at face height, no more than 1.5m away. I knew that they nested in the ground but the only reasonable ground nearby was a rock wall - or a fresh mound of dirt in the neighbour's yard. We moved aside and sure enough they flew straight in to the rock wall. The burrow entrance is just to the left of the second photo. Anyhow, I went back next day with my camera and managed these shots. I didn't want to hang around too long though - don't want to put a bird off breeding. However on the first day the neighbour had power tools going within 5 metres, jumbo jet overhead, us humans milling about - they didn't seem to care one bit. I suppose sparrows generally don't care about people - no reason pardalotes should really.
Lucky you having pardalotes nesting in your garden! Such beautiful little birds to see up close. The pair you have there seem very imperturbable from the description of what is going on nearby!
Fingers crossed they are successful with their nesting.
That's a beauty ...fantastic photo of a spectacular little bird.
Thanks @WhistlingDuck. First time I've seen them. A friend showed me a burrow once but never saw the bird until this one shot past, with its mate. That was yesterday. Went back today with the camera :)
That's another great photo. I see he is collecting little strips of bark just as the bird book says he should.
I saw a couple of spotted pardalotes doing the same a few weeks ago. I was quite close and they didn't seem concerned about me at all.
Looks like you are quite close as well.
gorgeous photos
M-L
@Whistling Duck - my daughter walked out of a door into the yard and I saw this bird shoot past her and land in a shrubby tree right in front of her. Curious, I snuck a look and knew straight away it was a pardalote. My daughter literally had a camera in her hand so I told her to take photos and video. It ended up being the female, then the male came as well and they both just sat there at face height, no more than 1.5m away. I knew that they nested in the ground but the only reasonable ground nearby was a rock wall - or a fresh mound of dirt in the neighbour's yard. We moved aside and sure enough they flew straight in to the rock wall. The burrow entrance is just to the left of the second photo. Anyhow, I went back next day with my camera and managed these shots. I didn't want to hang around too long though - don't want to put a bird off breeding. However on the first day the neighbour had power tools going within 5 metres, jumbo jet overhead, us humans milling about - they didn't seem to care one bit. I suppose sparrows generally don't care about people - no reason pardalotes should really.
Thanks @Araminta :)
Lucky you having pardalotes nesting in your garden! Such beautiful little birds to see up close. The pair you have there seem very imperturbable from the description of what is going on nearby!
Fingers crossed they are successful with their nesting.
Such a pretty little bird! Where did you take these lovely pics?
Roly
Healesville
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36062443@N04/sets/72157632450588204/
Hi @Roly - this was in southern Sydney.