The Slivereye or Waxeye is a pretty common bird in NZ. This morning I was watching a flock of them feasting on a fennel plant that has gone to seed by the river in front of the house. They seem to always move about as a group. I watched them flitting about on this fennel for over an hour, then abruptly they all moved onto the poplar tree nearby, where they feed on a certain insect that hatches its larvae on the back of the poplar leaves. Not one of them stayed behind to keep eating the fennel seeds even though the group was only a few meters away. Safety in numbers I guess. This usually very wary birds allowed me quite close today and I enjoyed watching their energetic seed gathering.
(Poster available)
2:12:02 PM 
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