23 March, 2010

Father and Son sunbirds

Remember Bathsheba in her fig leaf bath. With her understated olive grey plumage. This fig tree is right outside our kitchen window, so the zoom lens on our new camera was working overtime.





First, at 8 in the morning, before my time, the Ungardener captured this little fellow. We asked a birding friend why this bird looked so moth-eaten. So tatty. And he explained - that’s this year’s youngster. He is still growing in his new feathers. Trying out his first business suit after ‘years of dreary school uniform‘.




Junior came back for an afternoon refill.




Now this really smart metallic green jacket with the flashy double collar. Saville Row’s finest. Is his dear old dad. Last year’s male. 




These 12 cm little birds go under the catchy title of Lesser Doublecollared Sunbirds. The double collar being a narrow flash of blue and a wider band of flaming red. Puts a robin ‘red’ breast to shame.




This is our most common sunbird in the Western Cape. Found wherever there are trees. They eat nectar (Tecomaria, Aloes, Melianthus and the gardener is working on extending the menu), beetles, spiders and flies. The nest is built of the usual plant bits and cobwebs. (We also have the twice as large Malachite sunbird, occasionally, so waiting on good pictures)




And with that he is gone.


BTW Spirulina, our damaged sparrow, is not growing her wings back. But she is growing new feathers. A black bib and chest plate, a Cape Sparrow. She is no hen sparrow. He is a young cock sparrow. So when the Ungardener rescued him, the parents were probably still hoping junior would learn to fly soon! We’re renaming HIM SpiruliNO. 



Photos by Jurg,
words by Diana of Elephant's Eye


21 comments:

  1. Incredible pictures of beautiful birds, so nice to see the different colours of the father & son. The name Spirulino is great! :)

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  2. Diana, those sunbirds are simply gorgeous! We get the purple ones here but I've never seen these very stylish green-suited sunbirds before. Lucky you!

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  3. What a colorful, pretty bird! The photos are wonderful.

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  4. Red, blue and green on one bird! How beautiful!

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  5. The baby looks pretty enough but dad positively glows - what a handsome fellow. Glad to see Spirulino has survived despite never being able to fly.

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  6. Wow! You have the most amazing birds! What gorgeous colors, and the photographs are beautiful!

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  7. Thanks for the pick on Blotanical. I came over here and am so fascinated by your photos (not to mention the very different climate you garden in!) All your sunbird pictures are stunning, but my favorite is the very last one, where he swishes his tail and is gone.

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  8. The sunbirds are so handsome. Junior will look very dapper when his new suit is finished.

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  9. What a pretty little fellow! Nice photos. Glad to have dropped by today.

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  10. Very striking, Diana. Love the double-collar of blue and red, and that's a real red, not like the rust-colored waistcoat the Robin wears. The only thing that comes close here is the flashing green backs and magenta throats of the male ruby-throated hummingbirds, but they move so quickly I've never managed anything like those lovely shots you captured. :)

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  11. I would appreciate more pics of alaphants.

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  12. Meredith - these are our 'hummingbirds'. Between the first one, that flew into the window and sat in the Ungardener's hand till he recovered. And the second, who was bathing, do you mind? And these two, don't take pictures while I'm stuffing my face! We wouldn't have a hope of capturing them as they fly past. Frances the Faire says the hummers are called flying darts. On both sides of the pond, they zip past, so close, I'm left thinking - what WAS that?

    Andre - the elephants are coming. Slowly.

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  13. What fun, Diana! I hope you have plenty of figs to spare. Kudos to the Ungardener for the fabulous photos!

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  14. Lovely photos - looks as though you have a great spot to view them from too. thanks for sharing

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  15. Diana, I haven't visited for a while, I am glad to be back catching up on your posts. Your bird pictures are very engaging with nice descriptions of their feathers. I am hoping for our hummingbirds soon - another month or so. Do you also eat the fruit the bird is snacking on, or do you leave it all for them? Kathy

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  16. Wow!! and Wow! What jewels you have right outside your kitchen! I love the little one even with his unfinished coat. Your Sunbirds are just beautiful! Great captures!! What a joy to visit and see these! ;>)

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  17. Ben and Gardening Angel - with four fig trees (came with the garden) all the same variety, we have a glut of figs. I don't make preserves, so we just share them with the birds.

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  18. I just loved the way you described 'junior' graduating from his school uniform Diana! I could look at photos of these lovely birds all day :)

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  19. The first few pictures are fascinating and the story is captivating. i wonder there are no hummingbirds in your area like ours. we got only sun birds and becoming rare in urban areas. i wish some day i would capture one.

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  20. aloha diana,

    what lovely friends you have, those sunbirds, i love their colors and how nice of you to share your beautiful looking figs...hopefully they left you a few to munch on too!

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  21. Aha! So they are very similar to hummingbirds. They are so cute!! I like the different coloring on them and you can't mistake those beaks.

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Photographs and Copyright

Photographs are from Diana Studer or Jurg Studer.
My Canon PowerShot A490

If I use your images or information, it will be clearly acknowledged with either a link to the website, or details of the book. If you use my images or words, I expect you to acknowledge them in turn.


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