Tag: birdbath

Dove’s disappointment

ringneck pigeon in dry birdbath
Where’s my water?

We had a bit of rain a while ago but nothing but drizzle since then so our birdbath still gets a lot of use. This Spotted Dove, an early-morning visitor, looks quite put out at the low water level.

I, of course, blame the other birds, especially the Mynahs,  for splashing it all out. They, more fairly, blame me for not refilling it fast enough. Never mind – we do try, and I did top it up when I noticed the problem.

Incidentally, the bird has had a Latin name change: it is now Spilopelia chinensis rather than Streptopelia chinensis. Continue reading “Dove’s disappointment”

A Brown Honeyeater takes a bath

small brown bird perching on twig
When you’re this wet …
brown bird flapping wings
… you’ve got to shake yourself this hard to dry off

The birdbath in our back garden is well used by a variety of local wildlife. Mud-wasps use it to moisten their nesting material, mosquitoes use it for breeding (unless we keep on flushing and replacing the water), the local frogs use it as a swimming hole and of course birds often come to it for a bath.

This Brown Honeyeater is a regular late-afternoon patron and I was ready with my camera when he (or she – the sexes are similarly coloured) called in last week.

Birdbath: Helmeted Friarbird

Helmeted Friarbirds (Philemon buceroides) look a bit strange, with their bare heads and knobbed beaks, but they are closely related to honeyeaters. In fact, they are much the same size and shape as the common Blue-faced Honeyeaters (seen here in a photo by Ian Montgomery), and they are almost as common in our garden. Here’s one having a bath last week.

Helmeted Friarbird on edge of birdbath, looking around
Am I alone?
Helmeted Friarbird plunging into birdbath
Plunge
Helmeted Friarbird shaking itself dry
Shake
Helmeted Friarbird scratching its head
Scratch
Helmeted Friarbird on edge of birdbath
Wet but happy