The beautiful Splendid Wren

Male Splendid Wren, Pandappa, South Australia

 I have recently been looking back through photos of birds taken several years ago. This set of photos date from September 2014 on a trip to Peterborough in the mid north of South Australia. While staying with relatives I took a day out by myself to go birding, hoping to get a few photos to share here.

I travelled some 40 kilometres south east of Peterborough, through Terowie and further east to a locality known as Pandappa. This is primarily sheep grazing country though some cereals are also grown in good seasons. The farming in this area is marginal at best. On my drive I was aiming to visit Pandappa Conservation Park.

Today I am showing a series of photos of several male Splendid Wrens seen along the road as I travelled. I had to stop several times and wait patiently for these beautiful birds to pose out in the open. They can be frustrating to get good shots, sometimes secretive, always on the move. While these photos are not brilliant, they are amongst the best I have taken of this elusive species.

Further reading (click to read):

• Great birding moments #35
• Great birding moments #34

Male Splendid Wren, Pandappa, South Australia

Male Splendid Wren, Pandappa, South Australia

Male Splendid Wren, Pandappa, South Australia

Superb Fairy-wren Laratinga Wetlands

Male Superb Fairy-wren

On my visit to the Laratinga Wetlands a few weeks ago I saw many Superb Fairy-wrens. They were hopping around on the paths around the ponds and in and out of the many bushes, over the lawned picnic areas and along the edges of the water.

Trouble is, they rarely sit still for more than a fraction of a second. Getting a camera to lock on a good focus within good range would seem easy, considering the numbers of these beautiful little birds - but it's harder than you think. Frustratingly hard, in fact.

After many failed attempts - and blank, or blurred - images I managed two reasonable shots of one, sort of, obliging coloured male, albeit rather briefly. I'll just have to go back a few more times and have another attempt - or two, or three...

Laratinga Wetlands is on the eastern edge of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

You can see more of my bird photos on Trevor's Birding, another site I write for.

Male Superb Fairy-wren