This morning I paid my first visit to the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan. The gardens lie to the south west of Sydney, on the east coast of Australia. They’re well worth a visit, with beautifully laid out pathways and flower beds, and a number of different bird species.

A female Satin Bowerbird pottered around a bed of plants:

Female Satin Bowerbirds are gorgeous, with violet eyes and soft shades of green, yellow, and brown plumage. This is only the second time I’ve photographed a bowerbird. Both times they were female.

It was interesting to see this bird tucking into the carefully laid out plants. I didn’t know that birds can be this keen on eating their greens!

Common name: Satin Bowerbird
Scientific name: Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
Approximate length: 28-34 cm
Date spotted: 16 October 2022 (spring)
Location: Mount Annan, New South Wales, Australia: 34°04’16.3″S 150°45’58.1″E