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Spotted Pardalote |
Sightings
Spotted Pardalotes are seen by us only infrequently, although one can almost always hear them out in the bush. Sometimes spotted in Jack's Creek State Forest, 25 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales, and also (in 2005 and 2008) in the glacial valley of Rocky Creek, some 50 km north-east of Narrabri.
Frequently seen and heard by us on the fringes of Mt. Kaputar National Park, some 30 km east of Narrabri.
Also spotted on a trip to Royal National Park, south of Sydney.
Photos
Frontal view of a male Spotted Pardalote in a tree in Jack's Creek State Forest, 30 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales (click on image for larger version); the bird was extremely curious and came to check out the photographer, approaching to a distance of less than 2.5 m
View of the underside of the same male Spotted Pardalote (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of the same male Spotted Pardalote (click on image for larger version)
Similar view, taken in optimal light conditions, which brings out the brilliance of the bird's colours (click on image for larger version)
The bird was so relaxed that it decided to preen itself - here an interesting view into the plumage from underneath (click on image for larger version)
Different day, different location, same stroke of luck - curious male Spotted Pardalote in the Warrumbungle National Park, 30 km west of Coonabarabran, New South Wales (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a female bird (click on image for larger version)
More frontal view of the same female bird (click on image for larger version)
Pair of Spotted Pardalotes collecting nesting material in early August 2008 (click on image for larger version)
Nest
The nest entrance shown below was dug out of the soft sand lining a gully that is part of a creek and only flooded after extreme rainfall.
Entrance to a Spotted Pardalote's nest (click on image for larger version)
Habits
Amongst Spotted Pardalotes, the males are definitely more curious than the females. Only when taking first photos of a female together with a male we noticed that previously we had always seen males that had come to check us out.