I have been fortunate in the past three or more years to hear the beautiful song of the Korimako, New Zealand Bellbird. Eventually I spotted one in the garden but it was a fleeting view as this fast moving bird was there and gone.
Two very tall Bottle Brush trees in neighbouring gardens provide food for our nectar feeding birds, especially the Tui and Bellbird.
My attempts to photograph a Bellbird have been futile so far. But today our lovely visiting Bellbird ( or perhaps more than one) has been in and around the garden and singing temptingly close by.
With cold winter light offering little assistance I ventured out with my camera to try and locate Korimako feeding in the tree across the road. The zoom on my camera is very good and I was able to gain one photo.
I crossed the road carefully and stood a way off from the tree believing that the bird would be fearful and take flight. However food was a stronger pull and with plenty of foliage to hide safely in I was able to move closer and closer without causing the bird to fly away.
My luck held and I came home with some pleasing photographs and the great sense of achievement gained from ticking a “wanted bird” off the list.
I have included a link to a sound clip of the clear, bell like song of this very special New Zealand native bird.
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What a dear little bird it is. Congratulations on managing to photograph it, and thank you for the clip of the korimako singing: such a pure, sweet sound!
It is such a delight to have Bellbirds around us now. The bell song at dawn at the moment is magic. I’m glad you enjoyed the clip to listen to Juliet.
well done
I heard the Australian bellbird a few times many years ago and have never forgotten the beautiful clarity and the impression it made – much more than any audio recording I’ve ever heard. Would you say the same about your NZ bellbird? (I gather they are related?)