Kniphofia weaves its magic.

The Canberra Spinners and Weavers use the title "Warped and Twisted" for their Annual Exhibition.  Given the contorted bird-shapes in the following images I thought a reference to weaving in the title of this post quite appropriate.

Kniphofia is the genus name for the garden plant "Red-hot pokers".  There are many species but I suspect those below are K. uvaria.
We have two differing varieties - or possibly species - which flower at different times.  In the bed outside our sun-room we have the Summer flowering example, while on the Western part of the garden we have a couple of clumps which flower in Winter.  (Usually the emergence of the flowers on these is the signal for a hard frost (-5oC or below) which tends to disimprove them a bit.)

The flowers are very attractive to honeyeaters.  This is a Noisy Friarbird, also known as a Leatherhead.  This is the first twister.
 This image isn't as sharp as I like but is included to show the yellow pollen all over the bill and face.
The second bird species is the another big aggressive honeyeater, the Red-wattlebird.
Sometimes they are stretched as well as twisted.  This shot does show the red wattles, as well as the yellow belly.

 That is what I call twisted.
A few days later we received our annual visit from a New Holland Honeyeater.  They are regular at various Grevillea enriched spots around the area but only come here when the pokers are full of it.

A little later an Eastern Spinebill decided to make nice.  I liked this image because of the shape made by the feet, and spotting the red eye.
 After gorging, the bird went and recuperated ni the shade of a crab-apple tree.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A tour of the West (part 1)

Insects from pine trees

Satin Bowerbird gets ready for Lanigans Ball.