Amanda Stuart, Eastern Spinebill Calisthenics (ANIMAL 2024)

The Eastern Spinebill, a timid and elusive bird, has visited our deck for several months, while the succulent plant is in flower. It is one of my favourite birds on the Mornington Peninsula, but is challenging to photograph because it is tiny and doesn't stay still for long; the slightest movement scares it away. I am fascinated by the way it hangs on to the stems of the flowers. These photos were all taken one evening, just on sunset. The Eastern Spinebill is a species of honeyeater, found mainly in south-eastern Australia.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.