My backyard brings all the birds to the yard: Golden Whistler and Spotted Pardalote

Our lockdown has been extended by at least another two weeks. Today I dragged out an embroidery kit that was bought for me last birthday, but that I hadn’t started because I didn’t want to spoil it. Unused notebooks, get ready. It might be your turn to shine soon 😉 I can’t be the only one who doesn’t like to ‘spoil’ notebooks by writing in them surely? I accumulate them in all their various forms but when it comes to putting pen to paper, shudder.

But I think embroidery might actually be my thang. I mean, I didn’t swear or cry as I was working away. Mind you, I’m in the VERY early stages of the process but it felt good to actually start something, rather than just adding it to the list of ‘scary things to try’.

As you can imagine, we’ve been spending more time just hanging around in the yard. Well I have. Matt finds it hard to do zoom meetings if he’s outside with the dogs because our little doggo breathes very loudly and very noticeably especially if the sun peaks through a cloud. When we had our kitchen renovated, I heard the tilers giggling away because they thought I’d fallen asleep and was snoring away. Ah, no. That’ll be the dog, fellas!

It’s been really lovely though, sitting outside in the sun and just watching the birds come through in waves; busy little flocks flitting through the foliage, snatching at spiders and insects and sugary bits and pieces left behind. For some reason, I haven’t been taking my camera out with me that much. Normally I take a cup of tea or a book and just sit quietly on the deck, thinking about the vacuuming or the washing that I need to do. Ah, relaxation 🤣 This afternoon I had kind of assumed it was ‘just’ the teeny Thornbills pecking at and under and over the leaves and I have well and truly given up trying to get a decent photo of those guys. They are WAY too fast for me, that’s for sure.

Suddenly, out of nowhere I spotted a vibrant flash of yellow and white amongst the shadows. I knew what it was almost immediately and stood there undies in hand (just to put your minds at ease, the undie holding was washing related) just saying, “Camera, camera, camera” over and over again to the husband. Luckily he speaks wife, and grabbed my gear from inside and I got a quick snap of the first male Golden Whistler I have seen in my backyard! The boys are so damn pretty!

Now that would normally be enough to satisfy this girl here and really, what choice do I have right now? It’s not like we can go anywhere 🤣 But then I followed Matt’s arm pointing up a little to my right as he asked, “Isn’t that one of those birds you like? Those spotted ones?” It took me a few seconds to grab focus on the little bird, hidden behind a branch. “A FREAKING SPOTTED PARDALOTE! MY FAVOURITE BIRD EVER!!!” (Well, one of my favourites). It felt goooood to be having a mini little bird chase at home, trying to avoid the odd dog poo whilst trying to get a photo of seriously, one of my most loved birds. Again, I’ve never seen one in our yard even though we live in a prime location for them, surrounded by gums, which they love to forage in for the sugary lerps and across from a creek. They nest underground and creek embankments are a perfect place to tunnel into.

It was so fabulous getting some unexpected visitors when there is a clear no visitor rule! It might have just been one afternoon in our little corner of the world, but it was exactly what I needed!

Golden Whistler and Spotted Pardalote – Northern Illawarra