09 March 2010

Flax head and sparrow

A moment at dawn
Dawn at Wanaka a couple of months ago — the flowering harakeke (New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax) attracted a variety of birds, partly for the rich flow of nectar but also, as for this sparrow, simply as a vantage point. The long, tubular flowers mean only a few birds can access the nectar well (tui, for example, have beaks that fit the flowers very well, and also have tongues specially adapted for extracting nectar); sparrows, with their short, stout beaks, can only take what might trickle down from a bent-over flower.

All content © 2010 Pete McGregor
at

6 comments:

  1. Unknown10 March 2010 at 11:05

    This is simply breathtaking, Pete. Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. pohanginapete10 March 2010 at 13:10

    Thanks Emma :^)

    ReplyDelete
  3. butuki11 March 2010 at 04:06

    This picture somehow conveys the idea of a "moment" in a very poignant way, especially with the blur of the sparrow and the ember of the light. You can almost hear the high sound of the belt of awakening birds along the sun's creep across the Earth and the stillness behind their chorus. I love the spareness and the subtlety of the reds.

    (and this word verification: "molorki"... perhaps Google is trying to tell me something?)

    ReplyDelete
  4. pohanginapete11 March 2010 at 12:35

    Cheers Miguel. I'm always chuffed when one of my photos evokes the other senses :^)

    ReplyDelete
  5. leonie.wise18 March 2010 at 05:52

    gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  6. pohanginapete18 March 2010 at 12:16

    Thanks Leonie :^)

    ReplyDelete

Constructive criticism is welcomed (I particularly appreciate thoughts on what you like and don't like), but please keep it courteous.