Sunday 3rd August was a freezing morning - literally so; I had to
break a sheet of ice on the garden bird-bath, before I went to Banyule
Flats Reserve.
At 9.30 am there was still a lot of frost on long grass everywhere in
the shade. Common Bronzewings were feeding beside the Main Trail, as
many as 6 or 7 at once.
After a walk to the power-lines and back, in bright sunshine with no
wind at all, I was surprised to see a great deal of movement in a
flowering wattle beside the dry billabong. This wattle may be a Sydney
Green Wattle - similar but darker leaf to a Silver Wattle, and darker
yellow flower.
The tree was covered with masses of blossom and all the blossom
clumps were positively twitching and vibrating - an extraordinary effect
on such a still day. My binoculars showed that the cause was a large
flock of Silvereyes, presumably feeding in the wattle and shaking the
flowers. But what were they eating? The birds did not seem to be on the
stems where the nectar-glands are sited, instead they were diving right
into the blossom. Were they finding tiny insects (seemed perhaps
unlikely in such cold conditions) or were they perhaps eating the pollen?
I was reluctant to disturb the birds -they really needed their food
that day - so I didn't check it closely but took photos from a distance.
I shall put at least one up on the Birdlife Photography site as soon as
possible. I should be glad of comments.
Anthea Fleming
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