This small honey eater is found all along our east coast.

It's a very tame, inquisitive bird and because of that, quite easy to photograph.

In the early Spring they are present in large numbers feeding on nectar when the banksias and eucalypts are in flower.

Every year I make a point of visiting the area, especially during nesting periods from September to January.

Eastern Spinebills are most easily recognised by their long, fine, down-curved beak and energetic flight, during which its white outer tail feathers are prominent.

Males have a grey-black crown which extends in a black line on either site of the breast. The females are similar to the males but with less distinctive colouring.

These honeyeaters are protective of their nest area, and will work in pairs to defend it when intruders are nearby.

The female does most of the nest building and incubation of the eggs, however males have been seen collecting feathers for the nest and also assisting in feeding the chicks.

The nest is a small cup of twigs, grass and bark, combined with hair and spider's web, built in a tree fork, generally between 1 and 5 metres from the ground.

The Eastern Spinebill feeds on insects and nectar, while perched or while hovering.

As I mentioned earlier, photographing these honey eaters is a simple affair.

 I usually settle down close to where they are feeding, and use a 400mm lens with an image stabiliser, shutter speed about 2000th sec and the ISO set on auto. This allows you to move around with freedom, continually tracking the birds as they move around.

It is certainly a good way to spend a morning, usually with good results.