Monday 6 July 2009

Bridled honeyeater (Lichenostomus frenatus)

A lifer for me. Since spotting one in my garden last week, I've seen them everywhere. They've very active birds — one bird guide describes them as 'bustling' — and are reluctant to pose for a photograph. My normal view is a glimpse of natty two-tone beak and blue eyes through the scrub, so I was delighted to get these photos.

The species is a Wet Tropics endemic, living in upland rainforest and associated vegetation between Townsville and Cooktown. It is closely related to the Eungella honeyeater.

Standard view of a bridled honeyeater


A moment of quiet ...

... while deciding where to go next