One thing I learned years ago was that if I ever went looking for a specific critter, I probably wouldn’t find it. I also learned that if I’d shoot whatever I spotted, I’d often be surprised by who might turn up. That’s part of what has made critter-chasing over the years so pleasurable.
Over the course of many sessions spent chasing Aussie avian friends, the two most elusive have been the male Spotted Pardalote and the male Mistletoebird. It was about five years ago that I photographed the only male pardalote I’ve ever seen. I ran across him foraging on a tree trunk in the midst of various honeyeaters, enough of a delight themselves.
Up until last week, the Mistletoebird was probably the only significant Kings Park bird that I’d never seen. Of course the R5’s spot focus shot past the little fellow when he and his colors were in bright view, leaving me with the partially-obscured shot seen below.
At first, I had no idea that it was a Mistletoebird because it appeared to be a bit larger than what I had assumed one to be. Unlike the pleasure I got from photographing the pardalote, seemingly oblivious to my camera, this one left me feeling shorted because of the shot I missed.
I reminded myself of what I’d learned. So it was with great pleasure later on that I caught sight of an old friend: a Yellow-Billed Spoonbill. And even more pleasure followed with all the friends who turned up in the ensuing days.
Nothing in particular. Yep, that’s what I’m looking for . . .
