As winter settles in and we move past the shortest day of the year, the colder temperatures have certainly arrived. While the chilly weather isn’t always enjoyable, it does bring one thing I look forward to every year, the return of the birds to my garden.
I keep a bird feeder in the garden, and every winter it becomes a busy gathering place for some of New Zealand’s most beautiful native birds. Regular visitors include tui, silvereyes, and, over the past few years, a bellbird.
This winter has been particularly exciting because we now have two bellbirds visiting the feeder instead of just one. Seeing the two males regularly feeding together has been a real highlight.
Another surprise has been the increasing number of tui. We recently counted six tui feeding at the same time, the highest number we’ve ever seen in our garden. Even more remarkable is how well the tui and bellbirds coexist. Rather than chasing each other away, they simply give one another space and patiently take turns at the feeder.
Photographing Birds in Winter
The photographs in this post were taken over the last few days during typical winter weather. Some were captured in gentle rain, while others were taken under thick cloud cover.
Winter light is rarely ideal for wildlife photography. The soft, overcast conditions can make it difficult to achieve fast shutter speeds, especially with active birds like tui and silvereyes. However, the diffused light also helps reveal fine feather detail and creates a softer, more natural look.
For me, the joy of having these birds visit the garden easily outweighs the photographic challenges. Watching them interact at close range and being able to capture these moments is a wonderful reminder of how much wildlife can be found right outside our windows.
A Winter Garden Full of Life
Seeing two bellbirds together and six tui sharing the feeder has made this one of the most memorable winters I’ve experienced in the garden. Every visit brings different interactions, behaviours and photographic opportunities.
I hope you enjoy this small collection of images celebrating the native birds that brighten even the coldest winter days.
All the images in this post were taken using my Lumix G9II. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me through my website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.