Eastern Spinebills are pretty little birds, with dramatic white and dark grey markings at their throats, and soft orange chests. Their long thin beaks give them their name. They’re honeyeaters, feeding on nectar from flowers, with the occasional insect too.

This video shows what it’s like to be in the Australian bush surrounded by Eastern Spinebills. You can hear the spinebills and other birds all round. The video doesn’t zoom in on the birds, but every now and then you can spot them flitting through the foliage.

The birds were in one of my favourite spots in the Manly Dam national park. Here’s a pic showing the patterns and peace in the area of the bush where the spinebills hang out:

Common name: Eastern Spinebill

Scientific name: Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

Approximate length: 16cm

Date spotted: 15 September 2018 (Spring)

Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’24.3″S 151°15’03.8″E