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Pretty yellow robin
An Eastern Yellow Robin paused for a few seconds on a nearby branch. I grabbed the chance to take a snap:
Common name: Eastern Yellow Robin
Scientific name: Eopsaltria australis
Approximate length: 15 cm
Date spotted: 17 September 2024 (spring)
Location: Manly Dam National Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’23.8″S 151°14’39.8″E
Sacred Kingfisher dives on a robin
This morning, I was trying to get a good photo of this Eastern Yellow Robin:
The robin took flight and I followed it with my camera. Suddenly, a splash of bright colours dived at the robin, there was a flurry of dust and a soft thunk, and the robin took cover in the low bushes. A kingfisher had taken umbrage with the robin! Or perhaps the two birds had simply made a beeline for the same tasty-looking insect.
The kingfisher perched nearby to check for other interlopers, or perhaps to recover from the mid-air collision:
I think it’s a Forest Kingfisher, but it could be a Sacred Kingfisher. They’re very similar, but the Sacred Kingfisher is usually more green in colour.
Update on 31 December: Thank you to Andrew for the comment below, identifying the bird as a Sacred Kingfisher.
Here’s another view of the bird:
It’s interesting to see how the kingfisher seems to rest on its stomach, with its foot hanging down alongside the branch. Perhaps it’s perching on the other leg.
The next photo shows the strong blue colouring of the bird in the bright sunlight:
Common name: Sacred Kingfisher
Scientific name: Todiramphus sanctus
Length: 20-23 cm
Date spotted: Saturday 30 December 2023 (summer)
Location: Manly Dam Park, New South Wales, Australia: 3°46’31.2″S 151°14’46.6″E
Yellow robin in shades of blue
A yellow-breasted robin contemplated a piece of blue plastic:
The bird then hopped onto an artistically faded green fence. The muted autumn light added shades of blue to its plumage:
Common name: Eastern Yellow Robin
Scientific name: Eopsaltria australis
Approximate length: 15 cm
Date spotted: 12 May 2020 (autumn)
Location: Manly Dam National Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’36.7″S 151°15’16.6″E
Not all robins have red breasts
The Eastern Yellow Robin is a reasonably common sight in the bush around Sydney, Australia. This one was perched on a twig in a marshy area around a creek:
Common name: Eastern Yellow Robin
Scientific name: Eopsaltria australis
Approximate length: 15 cm
Date spotted: 22 July 2019 (Winter)
Location: Manly Dam National Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’24.2″S 151°15’05.8″E
Yellows and greys of the Eastern Yellow Robin
The bright yellow and soft greys of this bird’s plumage are quite distinctive.
The bird sat quietly on the branch for quite some time, occasionally turning to watch me with an inquisitive eye:
Common name: Eastern Yellow Robin
Scientific name: Eopsaltria australis
Approximate length: 15 cm
Date spotted: 8 April 2018 (Autumn)
Location: Manly Dam National Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’24.1″S 151°15’07.1″E
Eastern Yellow Robin near Sydney
A quick glimpse of an Eastern Yellow Robin from my walk today. The bird was in a dry creek, in Manly Dam National Park near Sydney. Eastern Yellow Robins are quite a common sight. I’ve seen them frequently in this particular spot, though it’s rare for one to sit still long enough for a decent photograph.
This short video shows the short shrift that the robin gives a worm, You can also hear the sounds of the other birds in the bush around the robin:
Common name: Eastern Yellow Robin
Scientific name: Eopsaltria australis
Approximate length: 15 cm
Date spotted: 8 October 2017 (Spring)
Location: Manly Dam National Reserve, near Sydney: 33°46’24.3″S 151°15’05.5″E
Sydney Birder 