Tag: malachite sunbird

A partly reclaimed view

In my list of Things to Do in the Garden in 2012 I mentioned that I want to prune some trees in order to reclaim a portion of mountain view. In the heat of summer we have managed to get that done and I am happy with the result.

This is a small corner view as seen from one corner of the entertainment area of our back terrace. It’s a place I love to while away a hot summers day either with a good book or good company. It’s a marvellous spot as the air is always full of bird song, its private and peaceful and the views of the garden and surrounds are lovely.

[one_half]Before: Mountain hidden behind trees[/one_half]

[one_half_last]After: Trees tidied and removed[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Now we can see the mountain again[/one_half]

[one_half_last]And … birds on the wire[/one_half_last]

[one_half]In the early evening …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]And a zoomed out view[/one_half_last]

I am happy with the result, I think it looks a whole lot better. I hope you approve!

In other news …the little sunbird that visits me every day almost has all his markings now! (I first wrote about him here when he was a juvenile). Isn’t he gorgeous? He comes every day just after five and does a little show for me in the tree. Then he goes back to the rest of his family who hang out on the other side of the tree, overlooking my neighbour’s garden. It’s been lovely, I’ve watched him mature over the last three weeks.

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags birds, malachite sunbird, sunbird

Christine's garden Gardening Home page features

Sunbird in the Hibiscus

I’ve been going on about how I’m trying to make my garden more hospitable to birds. I’ve been providing water in the form of bird baths and nectar feeders, I have a small bird house on which I leave seeds and pieces of fruit which they are eating and am researching which plants to get (that I don’t already have) to attract different birds to my garden.

Today I had a brief interlude with a Witoogie and then joy of joys, what appears to be a juvenile sunbird gave me a five minute show and allowed me to take a few photographs. There were quite a few of them in the tree but only this one was in photographing distance – How cute is this bird?

The interesting chest markings make me think its an immature sunbird. It hasn’t got the typical bright colouring of a sunbird yet – it still has some downy feathers (which you can see more clearly if you click to enlarge the sixth photo below) and then it has these red blotches on its chest, which make me think its still immature and developing its markings? I really have no idea, I’m assuming this of course.

[one_half]Sunbird lands on the branch[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Settling down on the branch[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Looking around ….[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Then looking upwards …[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Another look around[/one_half]

[one_half_last]and then it took off again[/one_half_last]

And then the Witoogies

Then I had brief encounter with a Witoogie – they love to eat aphids and I seem to supply those in abundance so have lots of visits from these cuties. One on the Hibiscus and then later, two in the front garden.

[one_half]Witoogie in the Hibiscus[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Poking around for what?[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Uh oh, he spotted me![/one_half]

[one_half_last]I see the fruit needs replenishing[/one_half_last]

[one_half]First there is one …[/one_half]

[one_half_last]and then there were two[/one_half_last]

This info on Sunbirds from Wikipedia:
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. There are 132 species in 15 genera. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders, especially when feeding young. Flower tubes that bar access to nectar because of their shape, are simply punctured at the base near the nectaries. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

The sunbirds have counterparts in two very distantly related groups: the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution brought about by a similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Some sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags birds, malachite sunbird, sunbird

Barbie's garden Home page features Miscellaneous

Malachite sunbird babies

I had the whole day in the garden today and with the joy of seeing the new Malachite sunbird babies in my fuchsia bush, well it made my garden work a whole lot more fun. I literally ‘played’ with them all afternoon. They were not at all fussed to see me in the garden. The mother bird made lots of noise to warn the young ones, but they watched me nonchalantly.

The male malachite sunbird is a bit of a psycho bird – I believe they get aggressive and restless during the breeding season. He makes so much noise for his size and continuously chases the female and attacks the babies. It was my duty to keep the young ones safe. He got so aggressive that he knocked the smaller one out of the fuchsia and he fell between the wooden slats of the front deck! It took me a good half an hour to help him (her) out from under there. He got all tangled up in webs and old leaves that I had to softly roll it off his delicate feet. By this time he was so exhausted and now so tame that he allowed me to hold him. It was such a delight!! We are now buddies!!

[one_half]Spotted the first baby sunbird in the fuchsia[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Can’t tell them apart yet[/one_half_last]

[one_half]This is the smaller one[/one_half]

[one_half_last]and this is the other one[/one_half_last]

Then as the evening came, the mommy sunbird called the children back to the nest and we took more photos of them, all cuddled up and ready for bed! They let us near and we have now been accepted as “cool” by the young ones! Yeay! I love having my feathered friends around me. I guess they all know that I’m the chicken lady and come and make their homes in my trees! What a delight!!

[one_half]And so to bed[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Nighty night little ones[/one_half_last]

Happy Gardening xxxxx

Tags baby birds, malachite sunbird, Nectarinia famosa

Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Sunbird in my garden

I finally had the opportunity to get photos of my local sunbird. The couple come back every year and nest in the same tree. He is a malachite green – it also looks blue sometimes in the light! He is a noisy bird and fights off all possible intruders – the local yellow weaver and the fiskal shrike (butcher bird). He chases them all around the garden, so I am assuming that there are baby birds. I also got a photo of the female, who is very scarse. They love my big protea bush in the front garden.

[one_half]Male[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Female[/one_half_last]

[one_half]He knows he is beautiful[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Preening and cleaning[/one_half_last]

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders, especially when feeding young. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

I would be interested to know what an immature sunbird looks like. I am keen to see the new family and get a shot of the new addition. I’ll keep you posted.

I hope you enjoyed the photos xxx

Tags malachite sunbird, Nectariniidae, sunbird