WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY - A Mixed Bag

My first morning at Wirrialpa Station in the North Flinders Ranges, 

I fully expected to be a flop.

I was out there as the sun rose and nothing stirred at all. As my 

hands got colder, my camera got heavier and suddenly there they 

were, a Variegated Fairy-Wren (female), Malurus lamberti 

with a pretty iridescent pale blue tail.

A young male coming into colour,

just see how tiny it is against the leaves

and miracle of miracles, a mature male in mating plumage whom 

I almost missed in sheer excitement. I only got one shot at him and

this blur was it.

If you can imagine anything smaller still, here is a Chestnut-rumped

Thornbill, Acanthiza uropygialis, the tiniest of tiny cuties.

Just check out those soulful little eyes!

This Hall's Babbler, Pomatostomus halii, in contrast, is almost the 

size of a blackbird.

They have quite a long sharp and strong beak.

And lastly, a Singing Honeyeater hiding in the bushes.

This was just my first morning's birding, there are many more to come . . .