Sunday with Sunbirds

 After getting the new Nikon 300mm f4 PF lens, i decided to get out more often. On one fine Sunday morning, I decided to go out and photograph birds at Central Park, SaltLake. A good number of photographers were already present there when I reached, and were shooting at some flowerpeckers on the treetops. I missed those flowerpeckers altogether and saw some sunbirds. They were perching on the tree tops only and were hardly coming down.

male purple sunbird on a stick

typical habitat shot

male sunbird in eclipse plumage, still not ready to come down

As the light brightened and temperature rose, the sunbirds decided to move on, so did we. I have never been inside that park, so I walked around a little and photographed a few more common birds.

pair of bronze winged zacanas, on water hyacinth

pond heron trying to catch fish

After 9 a.m. we had to leave as no photography was allowed after that. We came out and packed our gears, had a little tea and snacks at the nearby stall. We were about to leave, when the sunbirds decided to pay a visit to the nearby bottlebrush tree, just outside the park. The tree was not very high, almost eye level and abundant with flowers. The light was good enough, so, we took out our gears again and got busy....

at first, they kept their distance

a bold individual came out in the open, it was defending it's territory, see the yellow feathers on it's wings?? It shows breeding plumage and asserting dominance

then there was feeding frenzy

the ladies decided to join the party

posing with the flower

deep in thought

 

 

a rose ringed parakeet came to party 

After an hour or so of shooting, I almost filled up my 64 GB card, the light became harsher. The birds left one by one. I packed up my gears and said goodbye to my newly made friends.