21 May 2009

Piwakawaka (fantail)

PiwakawakaPiwakawaka (fantails; Rhipidura fuliginosa) were everywhere at Flounder Bay and seemed utterly fearless. They're usually confiding, but on occasions I wondered whether I'd end up with one sitting on the lens.
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

8 comments:

Anne-Marie said...

I can honestly say that's the first time I've seen a piwakawaka's tongue. Or any bird's tongue. Go little fantail! You tell naughty Pete off!

Barbara Butler McCoy said...

Love it! The energy and the detail are amazing, and that mouth makes me laugh:)

Zhoen said...

Those side feathers around the mouth. I can see how that would keep a little bug from zigzagging away at the last moment.

pohanginapete said...

Anne-Marie, I'm not naughty! Well, only when it's important. Or fun.

Barbara, believe me, the energy of fantails makes photographing them a real test of patience and perseverance. They're never still for more than a second.

Zhoen, the whiskers and eyebrows give them such a belligerent appearance, too.

Elia Marina López said...

Wonderful, full of joy and innocence

pohanginapete said...

Thanks Ely :^)

Pacian said...

Like a little feathered ball of obstreperousness.

Are you sure this fellow wanted to be photographed?

pohanginapete said...

Pacian — well, he hung around and posed for me for a while, and kept turning up when I'd put in an appearance. Perhaps he was chastising me for not working hard enough to present his best side? The avian Christian Bale, perhaps?