A little Red-browed Finch wrangles a long supple twig into its nest. The nest is in a lichen-covered tree, making a pretty scene with the red flashes on the bird against the green of the lichen.

The nest is barrel-shaped, bigger than I’d expect for such a small bird, with a small hole at one end:

The tree is in a swampy area of Manly Dam. When the weather is wet and humid, the lichen flourishes, as now:

In the dry summer heat yet to come, the lichen will die away, but it always seems to come back.

Common name: Red-browed Finch
Scientific name: Neochmia temporalis
Approximate length: 12 cm
Date spotted: 22 December 2023 (summer)
Location: Manly Dam park, near Sydney: 33°46’23.1″S 151°14’35.9″E