Friar Birds

[sambarhunter]

They are coming into the home yard for the pollen/nectar on the Callistemon flowers (bottle brush).
The summer heat is with us,37 C (96F) yesterday and theres not much deer hunting joy being in the bush whether with rifle or camera,though i still have an early AM look on cooler morns.
Anyway these vulturine looking birds come and stay for a month every year,something different for the non Aussies,but then many Aussies dont get to see them either.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Just incredible! Never seen this species of bird, thanks for sharing as always! Nice to discover new things...

 

[sambarhunter]

Jerome,I heard the birds outside and set my tripod up five mins ago for a few more pics.
The rain has them looking a little bedraggled.
I noticed in one pic a bee in the beak,ah so they eat bee`s then? Nope! As the next pic shows the bird dropped it.
I imagine they kill the bees that would sting their tongues as they probe the same flowers..new to me!

With bee capture.



Dropping the bee.

 

[sambarhunter]

Same Callistemon bush with a Yellow Faced Honeyeater.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Great pictures sambarhunter. Congrats.
Witold

 

[Clayton]

What a beak!

 

[CAustin]

Beautiful Bird!

 

[cpr0312]

Cool pics, also never seen this species

 

[kathy]

New to me also, thanks for sharing. Forrest

 

[sambarhunter]

They only appear here in summer when these flowers bloom,I have never seen them anywhere else at all so I dont know where they are for the rest of the time

 

[BRICKBURN]

Interesting to see a mini vulture.
Thanks for sharing your visitors.

 

[Pheroze]

What a sinister looking bird. It looks like something that would build Frankenstein or star in an Edger Allan Poe story. Cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[sambarhunter]

Sinister looking yes,I`m trying to remember some kid movie from the 80`s (?) that had dark vulture looking characters in it.They remind me somewhat of them.

 

[wahunter]

Interesting birds for sure , the movie wasnt the dark crystal ?
Great pics mate look your work..

 

[sambarhunter]

Thats the movie,I was thinking Labyrinth and looked up the characters but the vulture types werent in it.
Thanks for the prompting.

 

[spike.t]

They only appear here in summer when these flowers bloom,I have never seen them anywhere else at all so I dont know where they are for the rest of the time

ok well that saves me asking the question i was about to ask.....

 

[Pheroze]

Thats the movie,I was thinking Labyrinth and looked up the characters but the vulture types werent in it.
Thanks for the prompting.

I feel like I know the movie you are talking about but it has stumped me. It looks like today will be a Google search day lol

 

[sambarhunter]

If they sat still instead of being so bloody active I would get a few better pics,once the sun comes right out they go elsewhere until later in the day.

Dark Crystal is the movie Pheroze

https://www.google.com/search?q=the...J5QKHW2eBM4QyjcIhQE&ei=j0FUWN3iGsPO0ATtvJLwDA

 

[Pheroze]

If they sat still instead of being so bloody active I would get a few better pics,once the sun comes right out they go elsewhere until later in the day.

Dark Crystal is the movie Pheroze

https://www.google.com/search?q=the...J5QKHW2eBM4QyjcIhQE&ei=j0FUWN3iGsPO0ATtvJLwDA

Oh good lord, thank you! I am at peace! Totally remember that movie

 

[ScottG]

Thanks for sharing. Great to see new animals.