I was sitting on my deck in the winter sun, having morning tea with my son-in-law Joe, when a flash of colour moved in the corner of my vision.
I turned my head to see my first Rainbow Lorikeet in this place, right there on my railing. Stunningly exotic, as if escaped from a South American rainforest. But it is ours, a fairly common nectar-feeding arboreal native parrot. I have never had them where I’ve lived.
I haven’t complained, as they are really noisy and screech most unmusically, especially in flocks, as they usually are.
There are lots of lorikeets but Rainbow Lorikeets are easy to identify as they are the only lorikeet with a blue head.
I was wary of scaring this one as I edged away to get the camera … but no need. It was as ‘cocky’ as a parrot can be!
In fact, having strolled along most of the length of the railing, it hopped onto the table and I fear would have eaten the morning tea bickies had I not deterred it.
Was it tame, an escapee?
When another joined it, I began to worry rather than rejoice. I don’t think regular doses of their flamboyance is worth the noise if a flock adds my place to their route…
But since then, no more sightings.
(My photos were all inadvertently deleted, so thanks to Joe for these quick-thinking shots taken on his phone.)
A gorgeous auditory picture, Joy! I’m with you.
Yes, it’s noisy in the country. Yodelling kookaburras and magpies at dawn, flocks of screeching rainbow and scaly-breasted lorikeets at the birdbaths at midday, fluting pied butcherbirds and cackling noisy miners all over. Plus shrieking channel-bill cuckoos, wubbing pheasant coucals – and at night, don’t get me started – koels about to explode, boo-books boo-booking, and on and on it goes. But – just kidding! I love all those sounds!