My first post in here, and I thought it should be one appropriate to the forums' moniker. My backyard doesn't have too many interesting species to draw upon, but a pair of silvereyes have recently taken a strong interest in my grape vines. They're very shy, but this past weekend I spent an afternoon trying to catch them in the act.
These were shot with flash, as the vines are in pretty deep shadow when viewed from this angle.
I'd love to somehow encourage them to stay (or at least have them drop by more often), as they're much more welcome than the other thieves: the pigeons, magpies, house sparrows and blackbirds.
Yes, there are plenty of grapes left. it's been a good year. And the birds don't seem to mind me leaving them the dodgier looking ones!
Great shots, I love photo number 4 with the bird looking at you!
Great flashwork and photos detritus. I too like the composition of photo 4, but they are all great shots. Welcome to the group and look forward to seeing some more of the birds in your area.
Great photos and use of flash! I like photo 4 best too, but all are good
Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
And what a fine first post, detritus.
If you want to attract Silvereyes more often & encourage them to stay longer you can do no better than plant the native species which used to (& may still do) exist in your neighbourhood. It stands to reason, I guess, that the natural habitat on which our wildlife depends would be likely to attract the birds, e.g., Silvereyes, which are local to your area.
You might want to browse through the Attracting Birds to your Garden forum or you're welcome to ask questions & make comments in that forum.
Keep in mind that Silvereyes are rather migratory so they come & go as the seasons roll around. Some might stay over & not join the crowd heading for other parts so this is where indigenous vegetation comes in by providing a home for the lazy ones.
Great work Detritus! Silvereyes are one of my favourite bird species.
Samford Valley Qld.
Great photos ... very cute birds!
Thanks for all the comments, everyone! I agree with the 4th being the best composition overall. They're never sitting still enough, so the timing is hard. As is so often the case, the best poses/compositions are often the ones where I miss focus, and vice-versa!
I do really like these little birds - they show a lot of personality. The garden is a work in progress, but I'll definitely take you up on any advice when it comes to planting choices in the Bird-Friendly Gardening forum, Woko! I don't think there is anything particularly enticing to native birds in my yard or on adjacent properties, so I'll be hoping to remedy that.
..beyond my precious fruit, that is!
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Mike
https://flic.kr/ps/aF4bq
Really great, sharp photos! I look forward to seeing more..
LM
Thanks! Sadly, the great grape feast is largely over. I did really enjoy watching them go at it, though. Hopefully they stick around a bit longer for a few more shots.
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Mike
https://flic.kr/ps/aF4bq
Great shots...