Wings flapping and water splashing – behaviour revealed at the birdbath

Mar 31
2 min read

I haven’t been out on the road much lately. Not by choice… a broken ankle has meant pausing for a while to let it heal and recover. So, I’ve been staying a bit closer to home, which has temporarily altered how I go about taking photos.

When I have been able to, I have spent time sitting by the birdbath with my camera on a tripod and gimbal, watching and waiting.

While I often sit by the birdbath observing the birds, this time felt different at first. It felt limiting. I couldn’t move around freely or follow the birds. Instead, I stayed in one place, maintained the same position and looked in the same direction, with a narrower field of view.

However, to my delight, each time I settled in and got comfortable, I began to see more of the birds’ natural behaviour… simply by staying with them longer.

Birds returning to the same branch before descending for a drink. The rhythm of different species arriving and departing.

Who gives way to other species… and who doesn’t.

Grey Fantails arrive with Brown Thornbills close behind, taking turns for a splash.

Black-headed Honeyeaters take over, wings flapping and water splashing, while a Brown Thornbill patiently waits its turn

A Yellow-throated Honeyeater demands solo time at the bath while the other birds hold back.

Silvereyes arrive late to the bath, turning up for a quiet splash after the others have flown off.

Scarlet Robins make an appearance in another birdbath nearby, clear of the commotion.

Crescent Honeyeaters and Eastern Spinebills make a cameo appearance on a couple of occasions to see what all the fuss is about.

Even the light and warmth of each day – and whether it’s dry or raining – influence when the birds visit, how long they stay and how active they are at any given moment.

There's a kind of exquisite detail I may not notice when I’m able to move around more easily, or when I’m moving through a landscape following the moment.

In many ways, this simple birdbath activity reflects something deeper about photography... we can choose to actively pursue a shot or allow it to develop naturally in front of us.

Both have their place.

Even before the incident that stopped me in my tracks, I’ve found myself leaning into a quieter approach – pausing, watching and letting the scene come together in its own time.

And from this stillness, I get to discover, experience and photograph more as it all quietly unfolds.