Birding

Yellow White-eyes

December 4, 2011 by Clare M 8 Comments

Early Friday morning we heard them!

We have heard and seen these birds a few times recently, but they came into our garden for a drink and bath early Friday. I have already given a huge clue as to what these birds look like-it’s all in the naming! Most Australian bird names describe the bird very well and this is no exception. Yellow White-eyes Zosterops luteus are small birds at only 12cm, but make up for their size by the sound that comes out of them. They are usually in a group of about a dozen and found near mangroves and adjacent thickets. They are very yellow with a huge white eye ring. In Southern Australia there is a similar looking bird called the Silvereye Zosterops lateralis, but it is less yellow and less vocal!

Here’s what happened under our big native tree with it’s recently replaced leaves Friday morning….

We are still waiting for rain as we are into our Wet Season now, but like the birds we are just having a cold bath when the need arises as the rain has not come yet! The afternoon saw a dark sky over Roebuck Bay-we saw the rain & smelt the rain, but didn’t get any!

 

Here’s the rain we didn’t get……maybe soon!!!

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!