There have been no new photo contributions, but we’re lucky enough to see some bird photos on the FB page of Scott Ritchie, a retired medical entomologist who now travels the world taking fantastic pictures of birds. He lives in Cairns, Australia, and kindly allows me to use his photos. Today we have some photos of the Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens). Scott’s words are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
The 1st week of holidays in WA has been splendid. In particular we enjoyed Nannup, SE of Perth. I have been blown away by the Splendid Fairywren. The male is amazingly rich blue of various shades, with a subtle green tinge to the wings.
I came across several males who were just starting to put their makeup on. Females get ready! More different birds to come soon.Male in full colour:
Close up. I love the bib!:
Female and male Splendid Fairywrens showcase the amazing colour difference:
A male just beginning to grow his breeding plumage. Check out the blue specks under his eye:
Half way to full dress:
Closeup. I love the specked blue and grey. Like my flannelette shirt:
Launches in flight. Note the bands on the tail. Is it a daily growth pattern, much like trees have annual rings?
Incredible detail, well spotted
wow! Lovely pictures!
I saw those first two photos of those delightful blue birds and a word came to mind: iridescence.
Great photos! The Splendid Fairywrens are very beautiful little birds. We were lucky to see some on our last trip.
What incredible photos. I love the half dressed one. They are beautiful birds.
I have something to confess. The first time I read that you are a “medical entomologist,” I was terribly confused. A doctor for bugs? I didn’t know anybody actually cared if bugs got sick. So I googled “medical entomologist” and felt like a fool.
Anyway, I truly love these photos. Everything about the splendid fairywren is perfect – starting with its name. Your pictures of the juvenile male in transit to adult plumage are particularly beautiful.
Great pix. Those are cute birbs.
Superb shots and great color!
Speculate. Such clarity. I can see every molecule!
Very well done! And I really like the males that are only starting to put on their breeding plumage. They look wonderfully messy in the cutest way.
More about that barring on the tail – those are indeed called growth bars, and track growth like the rings of trees (but obviously over a much shorter timespan).
They can be a clue to help age birds – if the bars line up between all the retrices (fancy word for tail feathers) you probably* have a first year bird, as that’s the only time they grow in all thier feathers simultaneously.
of course there are always exceptions!
Beautiful!
Great bird, great color, great pictures. Thanks!
Gorgeous photos, thank you for sharing these!