Young Tui in the garden today.

Showing us their growing wattle feathers at the base of their throat.

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Feather tips

Many readers of my blog will know how much I enjoy feeding the Tui and taking photographs of these iconic and special New Zealand birds.

As word has got about in the Tui world that we have two sugar water feeders on offer, the number of birds visiting each day to drink their fill has risen. Antics at the feeders have increased substantially too.

Moulting season has come and gone this year and with it a small but delightful collection of feathers have been left in my garden.

Here is a selection from my collection:

Filamentous feathers of a Tui’s white, double tufted curled feather wattle

Filoplume feather from a Tui’s “shawl” around its neck and across its upper back

Wing or tail feathers showing some iridescence

Soft brownish breast or underbelly feathers showing some iridescence

Possibly fledgling’s soft downy feathers?

And in other feathery news I have spotted a Bellbird investigating the feeder and also checking out the bottle brush bushes….no photos…..or Bellbird feather treasure……yet…..

Water off a Duck’s back

This young Mallard duck was having a good feed from beneath the water of the lake on Friday. I loved the way the water flicked off his feathers but also the remarkably beautiful details, speckles and dapples of his changing plumage.

It is feisty at the feeder right now

Demand for sugar water has peaked in the last 10 days. We are seeing groups of up to 10 Tui arriving at the feeder during the day. Aggression is high but sharing also happens at times too.

I have ordered a larger feeder to help keep up with demand.

I took these photos tonight around dinner time.

Wordless Wednesday

Stephanie Dowrick quote on ordinary.

Let your eyes rest on something completely “ordinary” in the natural world. As you look, the beauty and delicacy of what you are seeing you will reveal itself to you. There is so much gloriously ordinary beauty in everyday life; seeing that, restores us to ourselves. Stephanie Dowrick

Feathery Friday

While I was out strolling at the Aotea Lagoon recently there were feathered friends on show

and the sky offered feathery clouds.

Have a restful weekend.

Tui time reposted

My friend and colleague, Marian whose e-books I posted about in Promoting Goodness also takes stunning photos. She has a new camera to play with and snapped this wonderful photo of a Tui feeding on a flax flower in her garden.
There is much to appreciate about these beautiful birds. I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do.