High in banana tree.....

Well not really, it's a rubber tree, but Harry Belafonte never sang about a 'yellow bird high in rubber tree' and strictly speaking although the Rainbow Lorikeet does have splodges of yellow, it definitely couldn't be described as a yellow bird (gosh that song takes me right back, it was played a lot in our house when I was young). This beautifully exotic looking bird is not actually native to WA, it was accidentally released in the 1960's and has since increased in numbers to the point that it is in competition with indigenous birds in the hunt for food resources and nesting spots. I think visitors to Australia are often astounded and sometimes annoyed by our extremely strict quarantine regulations but when you hear about some of the things people try to smuggle in and also take out, thank goodness for them! The other thing I didn't realize until I took these shots, these spiky branches covered in what looks like berries, is actually the flower of the rubber tree, and delicious if the number of birds feasting on them was anything to go by. They weren't easy shots to take, the one thing that is actually true to the lyrics of the song is that they were very high up and the late afternoon sun so bright!! I hope the sun is shining in your part of the world today..p.s my computer is on 'go slow' (so frustrating) will catch up tomorrow.....