When Vika and I got back from our walk this morning, our regular pair of lorikeets waited in the gum-tree. I chatted to them for a few minutes, while Vika looked around, trying to work out who I was talking to. I held her up and tried to get her to follow my finger – she is usually very good at seeing things when I point and say look – but not today, despite the squawks and weird noises coming from up in the tree.
A short while later, I had barely sprinkled the seed when the first swooped down to the fence about a metre and a half (or five feet) from me. The second one landed fairly quickly, but hung back.
They have a peculiar hopping motion. They thrust their head forward as they skip along. This third photo shows the shy bird hopping lower on the concrete platypuses. (see featured image, at the top of this post)
It wriggled around behind the eating lorikeet, who made room… just. I don’t know which one is female, or if one is female. I even looked at their eyes (you can sex galahs by their eyes) but the eyes on these two looked the same, despite the images turning me into a liar.
I moved the camera a little closer and the shy one flew off. The other flicked his wings a few times to regain his balance, revealing amazing colouring!
When I got tired of taking photos I tried an even closer shot – but that was too much for the bolder lorikeet, transforming into a flying kaleidoscope of colour. This small annoyance is the price they pay for their seed.
(Nokia Lumia 530 Windows Phone, on auto. Images cropped and reduced)
Have a wonderful day. 😀
Christine R 
Lovely colourful photos, and loved reading about it all too, thanks Christine.
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My pleasure, Claudette.
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GREAT SHOTS, if you keep talking to them they may reply
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Oh, they do most of the talking, Sue. 🙂
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Wow! Fantastic photos! I would be totally enthralled everyday simply watching the birds on your fence 🙂
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I’m so pleased with these birds Joanne. It’s taken over a year to entice them to come to my fence regularly. Now they think they own it! They put on a very aggressive front. I couldn’t believe it when I realized that they would come down while I was so close. Thanks for dropping by, Joanne.
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It seems that you’ve created a safe haven for them … and it’s catered!! 🙂
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What amazing, wonderful birds. You’re so lucky to have them in your backyard. I would so love to see them.
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There are probably some in a zoo near you, Janet. I’m blessed, all right.
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Congratulations, Christine! Your patience is paying off. And the pictures are marvelous–especially that one showing the open wings.
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