Superb Fairy-wren, Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Male Superb Fairy-wren, Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Any visitor to the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra should aware of the many Superb Fairy-wrens present in the gardens. They seem to be everywhere.
But just because they are everywhere does not necessarily mean that they are easy to photograph! The male in the photo above gave a few minutes of excitement but wouldn’t sit still long enough and in sunlight to get a good shot of him. Never mind. I managed a better shot later in the week (I’ll post that in a few days time.)
Superb Fairy-wrens are one of our most spectacularly beautiful birds. They also happen to be one of our most recognisable species too, as they seem to love gathering where people get together – in parks, zoos, gardens, picnic areas and so on. And they have become relatively tame in many places, affording the keen photographer many opportunities for that great shot.
It’s just that this little fellow decided to tease me. Oh well – there’s always next time.
Flowers, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
A Splendid result
2007 New South Wales trip report #13
A little further on in the Round Hill Nature Reserve we came to another narrow track, this one leading back towards the area we had stopped for lunch. We drove through the thick scrub, disturbing a Common Bronzewing Pigeon as we went along. We heard a few parrots and another Grey Butcherbird calling.
After about a kilometre or so of driving a little more than walking pace, I asked my wife if she had seen enough of this part of the park. We agreed that there seemed to be nothing new or interesting here, so I found a spot to turn around. It turned out that I saw our tyres tracks from where we had turned around about an hour earlier. We had come full circle! Now we know that track goes all the way through that part of the park.
Just before reaching the main road again we found a likely place to stop for afternoon tea. I retrieved the folding picnic chairs from the back of the car and we sat there enjoying the bushland and birds around us. We had almost finished when we both heard a familiar sound. Wrens!
I grabbed the camera and headed off in the direction of the call. I spent the next half hour dancing around a small patch of bushes trying to get a good view of the wrens. One of the problems was to get between the birds and the afternoon sun. I wanted the sun at my back for the best chance of a good photo. Within a few minutes, I knew I had a male and several female Splendid Wrens in the bushes near me.
Splendid Wren (male)
Eventually, the colourful male showed himself in the sunlight long enough for me to get off a few shots. They aren’t brilliant, but at least I have finally captured this elusive but stunningly beautiful bird.
Splendid Wren (male)
It was a fitting end to a wonderful day of birding. I had added 28 species to my trip list, which now stands at 82.
On the journey back to our cabin we saw our first kangaroos for the trip. Previously we had seen many dead roos on the side of the road; these were alive.
Update: this article was updated on May 30th 2019.
Great Birding Moments # 30 Superb Blue Wren
Superb Blue Wren (male)
On a recent picnic in the Newland Head Conservation Park near Victor Harbor we had the delight of a family of Superb Blue Wrens hopping around on the gravel near our feet. There seemed to be about six or seven females and non-coloured males accompanied by one male in full breeding plumage.
As the light catches the iridescent colours on the male it is always a Great Birding Moment. The brilliant colour is almost enough to make one gasp in amazement. The fact that they are happy to feed on the ground only a few metres away is an added bonus.
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
For more photos click here.
For more Great Birding Moments click here.
Bird Word: Eclipse Plumage
- Eclipse Plumage: for some months after breeding some species, for example, some male ducks and male wrens, take on a duller plumage colour before resuming their normal plumage.
The male wren in the photo below is certainly NOT in eclipse plumage. He is in full breeding plumage. I show this photo because I do not yet have one taken of the male in eclipse plumage. The female, shown on the left, is confusingly like the male when he is in his eclipse moult.
Superb Blue Wrens
Great Birding Moments # 25 Superb Blue Wrens
Male Superb Blue Wren
I love seeing the various species of wrens we have here in Australia. Possibly the species most commonly encountered would be the Superb Blue Wren. It is indeed superb. The male in his breeding plumage is magnificent.
This species can be quite tame where they become used to people. In parks, gardens and picnic areas they are quite at home hopping around your feet. They are even bold enough to join you on the picnic table looking for crumbs from your lunch.
On a recent drive along the Murray River upstream from Mannum we stopped to check out a lagoon near the road. I was looking for water birds. I had just pulled up by this post on the side of the road when a male and female Superb Blue Wren decided that they had better investigate what we were up to. They posed beautifully for several minutes, enough time to take some lovely photos.
Click on the photos to enlarge.
Superb Blue Wrens