Little Wattlebird

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Little Wattlebird
Photo Information
Copyright: Sue Thomson (SueThomson) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 117 W: 0 N: 190] (595)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 400D, 75-300 Canon EF
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-02 20:43
Viewed: 420
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This morning I ventured down to the Gold Coast in search of some birds which frequent the coast. After getting some photos of some pelicans and seagulls at Currumbin Creek, I walked back to my car through a track which was full of lovely banksias. There quite a few of the Little Wattlebirds about, but they were very quick, flitting in and out of the trees. I hope you like this little fellow!

The Little Wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but is the smallest of the wattlebirds. It is mostly dark grey-brown above, with faint white shafts on each of the feathers. The underparts are grey and are heavily streaked with white. The streaks are finer around the throat, becoming more blotched on the sides of the belly. In flight, there is a large rufous patch in the wings. The eye is blue-grey.

Little Wattlebirds are found throughout south-eastern and south-western Australia and Tasmania. Little Wattlebirds prefer the drier and often scrubby, habitats, such as banksia heaths, forests, woodlands and urban parks and gardens.

As with other honeyeaters, Little Wattlebirds feed on nectar, which is obtained using a long, brush-tipped tongue, specially adapted to probing deep into flowers. Other food includes insects, flowers, berries and some seeds. Most feeding is done while perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in small to large groups.

If conditions are suitable as many as three broods may be raised in a year. The female Little Wattlebird normally constructs the nest, which is a large cup of twigs and grass, lined with soft materials, such as feathers and wool. The nest may be placed in a range of places from the ground up to about 15m. The female also incubates the eggs alone. Both sexes care for the young chicks.
Art_R, Gundog68, Argus, rcrick, CeltickRanger, Hil, gracious, inked has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To inked: Little WattlebirdSueThomson 1 05-08 03:22
To waminda2020: Little WattlebirdSueThomson 1 05-02 23:07
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 13 N: 389] (1537)
  • [2008-05-02 21:30]

Hi Sue , a very nice image of the wattlebird , with good detail color and composition. it is so neat to get to see birds from the other side of the world. thanks for sharing.

regards

Art

Sue
Nice portrait of this bird. We get these birds here in Adelaide regularly too. Nice composition, and good crisp focus on the subject. Nice framing too!

Thanks for sharing
Mark

Sue - another marvelous photo - a little over sharpened???? thanks for your critique and for sharing this lovely photo,

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2008-05-02 23:09]

Hello Sue,
A fine capture of the Little Wattlebird, a species that we saw several times during our visit to NSW but have only succeeded in taking mediocre shots of it, but you have achieved a fine POV and good sharpness against a pleasing blurred natural BG. Fine composition too.
Thanks for sharing this fine image,
Regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 557 W: 39 N: 1001] (3266)
  • [2008-05-02 23:36]

Hi Sue,

Nicely seen and captured, lovely detail in the plumage, perfect background in the OOF bush and blue sky, good eye catch too, have a great weekend,

Cheers Rick :)

Hello Sue,
Good point of view and I like the composition!
Good details in the plumage, and the subject stands out well on the background...
Greetings,
Pablo -

hello Sue

excellent shot of the Little Wattlebirds, fine POV, DOF and vertical framing,
lovely luminosity of the image, i love the blue sky of the bakcground too,
excellent sharpness and details, and lovely catch-light at the eye, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 782 W: 11 N: 1380] (4759)
  • [2008-05-03 14:35]

Hi Sue

Lovely shot of the Wattlebird
Nicely composed with a gppd POV and a fine pose.
Nice sharp details and great colours and light.

Hil

Hello Sue,
Beautiful pose of the Wattlebird well captured in good closeup!
the image is sharp with good colour and details
many thanks for the useful notes!
well done
greeting across the Tasman
Tony

Hi Sue, I just had to comment on this guy. They're not as common as many think. I think they are probably mixed up with the Red Wattlebird a lot. I just saw my first one a couple of weeks ago, and it was as you say in your notes, in a drier area of Banksias. Maybe someday I'll post it, but not with this one showing now. This is a great shot of the Litte Wattlebird. You have excellent light on him, with excellent detail and colour. The composition with him angled across the frame against that great blue background works very well. Very nice.

Thanks, enjoyed! John

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 214] (634)
  • [2008-05-07 22:31]
  • [+]

Hi Sue,
nice catch of this wattlebird.. As John said, they certainly aren't as common as many think.. i know i haven't managed to get a shot of one yet. I like the composition, pose, lighting and nice sharp detail.. maybe a little oversharpened though as you can start to see the ghosting around the branches and bird.. only a little though! nice work all the same, well done and tfs
Gethin

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