Wednesday 10 December 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday 126 - Spotted Pardalote

Eventually Sunday's rain stopped and I was able to get tout - not to where I had planned to go, but to a small local wetland sandwiched between a bike path and a freeway.  This does not sound like the most exciting location, but it is local and it normally holds some birds.

Before I had even managed to get near the water I saw some movement by the side of the path.  I retreated a little and waited for a while.  A slow but regular flow of post rain dog walkers may not have helped the bird quickly return, but eventually it did.

My initial reaction on seeing the bird was that it was a Pardalote of some kind, and this proved to be correct. Once I got reasonable views of it, the orange yellow rump gave it away as a Spotted Pardalote. And the grass in its mouth gave it away as a bird that was building a nest.

Possibly surprisingly, this small (8cm) nest is burrows near the tops of banks and other hidden away places.  The books all seem to suggest that the outer layer of the nest is made of bark shreds, while the inner part is lined with grass. So, presumably, these beak-fulls are intended to line a nest somewhere.  

This bird also goes by the name of Pardalotus punctatus - which means 'spotted leopard spotted bird' - and as you can see it has spots!

These were the first pictures I have managed to get of this species - and given their size, the less than bright light and the dog walkers (how dare they!), I'm pleased with the results




 Its almost your turn to link to WBW - but first a note about word verification!

Word verification is turned off on my blogs - but due to a glitch with Blogger (or somewhere) it will show up - HOWEVER, you can ignore it completely, type a comment and just click publish and it should work.  

Now it really is your turn to click the Blue Button and join in with WBW - feel free to spread the word to the world!

44 comments:

  1. adorable little bird - bright colors, spots and stripes. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The first I've ever heard of a Pardalote. Cute little guy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a delightful little bird. So glad you caught it on it's way to the construction site.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a little beauty and so happy that you were patient and waited to get a good few shots. It is almost Winter here and so speaking of nest building down under sounds upside down ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. He has a mouthful alright. You caught him in action.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a pretty bird, it sure does have a mouthful. Great sighting and photos. Thanks for hosting, enjoy the rest of your week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's like a wren and euphonia put together! Cool bird!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pretty bird.

    Blessed be those dog walkers, giving their pups enrichment, while they give themselves exercise. I won't have you talking badly about us, ya hear?

    ReplyDelete
  9. An interesting bird and beautiful photos.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for checking on the comment word verification on my blog and giving me feedback! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Really a lovely little bird !
    Wonderful pictures !

    ReplyDelete
  12. That last shot really brings out the interesting color and pattern. Although I rarely meet another person in my Florida birding patch, it is quite the opposite in Illinois, where bike and running paths follow the river and wind through the preserves. To their credit, they often stop when I am looking through the binoculars, making me feel a little bad unless there is something unusual in view. Lots of opportunities to talk to the strangers and often enlighten them about what is happening just off the trail.

    ReplyDelete
  13. We often hear these little birds so it's really nice to see them. Beaut photos Stewart :D)

    ReplyDelete
  14. A gorgeous little bird. This is the first bird I learned to imitate when I first visited Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gorgeous little bird! Love that you got the nesting material, too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Exquisite as usual....beautifully so. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another new species to me. What a little beauty.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such a cute little nest builder. Well-spotted and photographed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Brilliant Photos - one of my favourite little birds.

    ReplyDelete
  20. So cute! Pretty spots and the yellow under. Great pictures of it's mouth full of twigs!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great photos especially considering interruptions. What a cute little fellow, I love it's colour and patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  22. That's a real beauty of a bird. Great shots. I'd be well pleased with those.

    ReplyDelete
  23. It sort of reminds me of a Grey Wagtail without the spots.

    Sounds like you have the same problems with dogs that we have. They are totally out of control - the owners and the dogs.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello Stewart.
    Beautiful series of images of this bird.
    The last picture is my favorite.
    Best regards, Irma

    ReplyDelete
  25. Pretty bird!!! And busy bird!! As in preparing for a nest?

    ReplyDelete
  26. What an amazing bird! Thanks for letting me know I was posting on the wrong blog. I've changed the link too. Greetings Jo

    ReplyDelete
  27. That's a very neat-looking bird! I like its coloring!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a pretty little bird, glad you were able to capture some photos of it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love this bird! I only just learnt its call this year and now realise it is fairly common in SE QLD, just hard to spot! I too got my first ever photo of one a few months ago, and my bird was also a male beside a walking track - but without the cute 'busy' look of yours!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What an adorable, beautiful and unusual bird. With, I might add, a difficult to pronounce name. You should spell it out phonically so the linguistically challenged followers can pronounce it :) As for the dog walkers. I admire your patience ... I would probably have stuck my tripod out and tripped them or something. I get very upset (inside) when someone keeps me from getting my shot. I am old school though, so I remain polite, but you wouldn't want to hear the language that is going on in my head, Ha! Love this bird, Stewart ... so glad you happened upon him/her.

    Andrea @ From The Sol

    ReplyDelete
  31. What an amazing little bird! I love that you saw him on your birding excursion, and got such great photos!

    OK...will be ignoring the Word Verification...

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh my, he is so darling with all those spots and his mouth full!!!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a beautiful, spunky little bird! I love that it was gathering material for a nest perhaps.

    ReplyDelete
  34. He's a beautiful little bird. Congrats on adding it to your photo library.

    ReplyDelete
  35. You have a busy little Spotted Pardalote! What an interesting-looking bird. I liked your description of your birding grounds. And isn't that the case--one tries to get a shot, then people show up! It happens everywhere, I guess. Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a sweet bird.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great photos of this beauty Stewart.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Beautiful bird! One I've never heard of before.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Cute bird, with the grass in its beak. The colors are beautiful, they are somewhat similar to my Nuthatch this week. I've never heard of a Pardalote either.

    ReplyDelete