[Photos] The Visitor (male splendid fairy wren).

[moonvoice]

While in Margaret River, we visited the Berry Farm. We go there once a year mostly to stock up on jam (and then the jams/conserves we get last us until the next year, lol, so it works out). But this time we actually decided to stop off for lunch, because my stomach has been a *tad* more reliable lately. We ended up sitting outside in a sheltered area, and got some visitors while we ate. Delightful, colourful visitors. :D







I tend to think Western Australia is particularly blessed with the male splendid fairy wren. It's just a solidly blue little bird when he has his breeding plumage. And so glossy and bright. Seeing him behave in such a friendly manner (hoping for scraps from our food) was delightful.

Checking us out:





Checking out what's available:





One of his harem females was in this shot too! Yay sexual dimorphism!







Bird butt:

Comments

[alias_sqbr]

Oh my goodness so adorable!

[moonvoice]

They are the cutest! And very habituated! They are obviously used to snatching food off people's plates, lol.

[alias_sqbr]

Who could resist such adorable theives?

[elinox]

Wow blue! He's gorgeous!

[moonvoice]

They are so pretty!

[fred_mouse]

I think the bird butt is the best of them! Somehow gets the proportions right in a way that front on just doesn't quite manage.

[moonvoice]

Yes, bird butt was absolutely necessary. :D

[feralkiss]

Wow, handsome bird!

[moonvoice]

So blue! So hard to find their feathers though.

[feralkiss]

That's too bad. :C

[goodbyebird]

Oh how beautiful!

[moonvoice]

They are so stunning. :D

[cmcmck]

Nearest we get to that colourful is our native kingfisher.

[moonvoice]

Our kingfishers are blue too, but this little guy is the bluest. They have the Superb Fairy Wren over in the eastern states but even that guy doesn't get as blue (but still gets blue!)

The world needs more photos of blue birds. :D

[fadedwings]

so beautiful!

[moonvoice]

He was such a wonderful subject. :D

[cinnabarheart]

Awwww, so cute! :D And his feathers are such a gorgeous blue.

[bunny_m]

You should see them in full sunlight! The blues are just so vibrant and intense, it's amazing.

[moonvoice]

They really are so pretty, and Bunny is completely right - seeing them in sunlight is something else entirely. This was in the shade, only some of the gloss picked up, but in the sun it's like spun blue glass.

[moonvoice]

Given how small they are, they definitely stand out in the bushland! Heh.

[silverjackal]

Such a glorious blue! Like a piece of the summer sky ensouled for independent flight. You know I have a thing for blue in any case, and my encounters with blue birds have always been special -- kingfishers in the gloom under the trees like flitting jewels, and once a pair of mountain bluebirds very early in spring when everything was still dead and brown and the sky was leaden. It was like seeing life itself arrive in a dead land. Your little fellow is very, very charming! :)

[moonvoice]

They are really delightful. Even in their non-summer plumage, they're still very pretty (though definitely not as bright). :D