Wednesday 7 October 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday 167 - New Holland Honeyeater

This is a bird I have been trying to get some pictures of for a long while - it's not that its rare, it's just that I don't seem to see them up close very often.  The garden in the house at Apollo Bay had a resident pair of these birds (as far as I could tell) and while they were still a bit nervous, I did get some shots by waiting (and waiting) on the verhadna overlooking the garden until the birds started to ignore me.

New Holland Honeyeaters are a smart little bird about 18 cm long.  I tend to associate them with places close to the coast, but in reality they can be found further inland.  That being said, their distribution does hug the south coast of the country.

Unless you happen to live in the Australian region - i.e. Australia, NZ, New Guinea or a few small Pacific Islands (specific Pacifics I suppose!) you will not see many Honeyeaters as they are restricted to this area.

They don't really eat honey, but do eat nectar and other sweet fluids produced by plants.  Because this diet is very low in protein, many of the Honeyeaters will also eat insect.

So, enough of this - I give you Phyidonyris novaehollandiae - the New Holland Honeyeater.








Now its your turn - and once more, I would invite you to tell fellow bloggers you know who may be interested in such things about the wonder that is WBW!  So, off you go!

39 comments:

  1. Oh, what a beautiful bird!! And, of course, I've never seen one like it!! Your captures are terrific!! Thanks as always for sharing!! Hope your week is going well!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very beautiful and colorful bird.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow, you really got some great images of this beautiful bird. Congrats to the sighting.

    Thanks for hosting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous....I can see why you wanted photos!!! This is a marvelous species!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a very handsome bird - looks especially good posed on those flowers!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a striking bird! That's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a stunning bird. You'd never get tired of looking at one of those.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh *GASP* Stewart. I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven if I saw such a beautiful bird. As I won't see one in real life, thanks for sharing with us. Have a great day. Jo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh *GASP* Stewart. I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven if I saw such a beautiful bird. As I won't see one in real life, thanks for sharing with us. Have a great day. Jo

    ReplyDelete
  10. That are really smart bird, great photos.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a pretty bird. I love the dash of yellow on his back.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would have to say that it was well worth the wait to capture these exquisite shots of yet another exquisite bird. I am beginning to feel like I have settled in the wrong place because, honestly, our birds are boring compared to yours and we certainly don't have the variety you have. I know there are other parts of the country that would take exception to that, but I think I could speak for the people in the midwest ... Australia has to be Birder's heaven!

    I did peruse your FaceBook pages at your suggestion and found that birds are not your only favorite subject ... i.e. an adorable furbaby and a beautiful family. Your wife and children are gorgeous. I love the red hair and the generous smiles of all of them. You are indeed blessed, Stewart as are they with you. My father was an educator and researcher at the State University so I have a high respect for what you have devoted your life to. You seem to have the gift for making good choices. Melbourne is still on my bucket list so maybe I will be able to say all of this in person some day:)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's exquisite Stewart, a truely beautiful bird.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is a way cool bird! Wicked colors and look. I know what you mean....some of the common birds can be the trickiest.

    ReplyDelete
  15. sharp-eyed and sharp looking bird! great shots, stewart!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's a really beautiful bird, Stewart! Glad you finally got some shots of it...the photos are wonderful! I know what you mean about posting not being mandatory but I always feel so guilty when I have to be away from the blogs for a bit! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another great set of shots! (even if they aren't from behind!)
    Another reason I need to visit Australia!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great photos, Stewart. The similar bird that I see up here is the White-cheeked Honeyeater. Glad I don't have to tell them apart in real time!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Absolument magnifique
    cet oiseau est superbe, les photos magiques.

    ReplyDelete
  20. That's a stunning bird Stewart. Spot-on pictures too which make the bird look in 3D.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful photos of a bird that I haven't ever seen either.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Stewart, another exquisite capture of a new bird for me. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Magnificent pictures of a very beautiful bird. Its markings reminded me of both a black and white warbler and a yellow-rumped warbler. We have no members of that family in the US.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a beautiful bird and great photos. A new bird for me. When I visited Ozz I was not blogging so I am sure I missed so many things!! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  25. I remember this bird well from my visit to Australia in 1999. Those were the days of film and it was expensive to buy the film and then have it developed so one was careful with the number of pictures taken. Net result - I have no pictures of this species! Great to enjoy yours, however.

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a stunning bird the Phyidonyris novaehollandiae aka New Holland Honeyeater is! You've captured its beauty perfectly in your brilliant pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a striking bird Stewart! That bill is perfectly adapted for the bird's diet.

    ReplyDelete
  28. What an adorable little bird..Love it's coloring..Wonderful shots , Stewart.!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Stewart, this is such a handsome looking bird...a species I never heard of...and the facts you've relayed are yet another learning for me...although I would never attempt to pronounce it's name!!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  30. A dapper fellow! I would settle right now for any bird at all. Must get out into nature soon.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Well, on behalf of all visitors to Wild Bird Wednesday - thank you for your patience, Stewart!

    Brilliant photographs of a really gorgeous bird! Good show!

    Hope you're ready for another weekend - it's almost here already.
    All the best - Wally

    ReplyDelete
  32. What a striking bird, with its bold black and white plumage with a dash of yellow. That beak does look like it was made for nectar. So glad you persevered and were rewarded with some really nice shots to share. Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love the last two shots with it balancing on the flower. As you know I am not a birder but I do like trying to improve my bird photography. I took a shot of a bird in the Botanic Gardens in Canberra and had no idea what it was until I saw this post. Thank you now I can put a name to the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Those last two shots are real stunners Stewart.

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a beautiful bird! Great photos Stewart!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Absolutely gorgeous shots of the NE Honeyeater! I've only ever photographed one and it was quite a distance away. You have done brilliantly with these shots!

    ReplyDelete