It seemed that June was the month for the Tui at our place. This bird is native to New Zealand (endemic in fact) and while it's not rare, I find it pretty special to have them around.
I was thrilled to get some decent photos of the one that had set up camp near our house...there were more across the road in another stand of the same type of trees... we could hear them calling to each other a lot.
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| Their chin tufts are pretty distinctive; they are also sometimes known as The Parson Bird. |
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| From a distance they appear black - but far from it! |
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| Nectar is their main food but they also like pollen. They do gymnastics getting inside the flowers! |
Which brings me to my One Monthly Goal for July. A few years ago I did some pattern testing for Juliet of Tartankiwi.... below is a Tui block I foundation pieced/tested for her. I was really happy with how it turned out but it has sat for all this time, with nothing more done to it.
I am HOPING that July will be the month to stitch this up - I think it will make a really lovely cushion.
Thank you to Heidi for hosting the OMG and giving that extra little push I need to rummage through my UFOs, WIPs, or just plain old abandoned blocks like this.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the video I've tried loading works!! It will give you a ringside seat at one of our resident Tui's performances - enjoy :-)
(Enlarge the video if you can, I'm not able to in blogger!)
'til next time,
happy creating,
Hi Raewyn what a beautiful bird and I love your bird block,well done,sorry no video there for me ....
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely colours there are in the feathers. And I could happily listen to them calling each other. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely bird! Thank you for sharing pictures of him. I love your foundation paper pieced one too. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the video, beautiful bird and the block is lovely
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting bird. I had not been aware of it before. That is a beautiful pieced version.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the video--loved hearing its call.
I love tuis! They are, are you said, not black at all, the beautiful steel blues, purples and turquoise said are all there. Yes, they are so acrobatic, standing on their heads to get to the nectar. We get them in our NZ garden as several neighbours encourage them with bowls of sugared water. We have a lot of flax too which of course they LOVE. In the summer the tuis use our back deck as a route from one source of nectar to another, flying so fast and so straight across the deck, practically touching the top of our sun umbrella.
ReplyDeleteYou did get wonderful closeup of him Raewyn. We have lots in tress around us, they often come into the trees in our place and sing away merrily, I love to hear them - although in Summer 4.00am is a bit early!!! Lovely tui block.
ReplyDeleteOur Tui are beautiful birds so lucky that we have them around and I could listen to them coo all day. Also love your pieced Tui look forward to seeing him finished. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteGreat Tui photos. Ours sound a bit different than those. We notice their song changes from year to year ( just slightly ) We have one that is particularly brave/ hardy. It splashes around in the birdbath going under usually 6 times no matter how cold the water is.
ReplyDeleteI love the Tui also and we have them at home. Love the sound they make! Your pieced Tui will make a beautiful pillow.
ReplyDeleteTui's are one of my favourite birds and we are lucky to see them and to hear them. Juliet's patterns are always so precise I fancy making myself some oneday, her Zebra is one of my favourites, but I don't think I will be seeing one of them running around in the bush anytime soon!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Tui photos. That block will make the perfect pillow/cushion.
ReplyDeleteTuis are such special birds, aren't they. You were certainly lucky to get such clear snaps of the birds.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the tui Raewyn! Love the video, thank you! I used to watch the tui in a kowhai tree we had in the front yard in Tauranga when I was a bit younger!! Lol!! The tui block is beautiful!
ReplyDeletenever heard of this bird before loved the video such a variety of song maybe a distant relative to the parrot family. The parson bird is such a good name for it. Your FPP looks good and yes a great cushion it will make
ReplyDeleteLovely Tui, I was lucky enough to see one close when I visited NZ a few years ago... and I love your pieced one too...
ReplyDeleteHugz
Hi Raewyn, your tui photos are really stunning. I always thought it was more of a spring time bird so is it early perhaps?? Mind you the seasons are all over the place. Your pieced Tui block is pretty special too ... look forward to seeing what you do with it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and you are so clever with your pieced one. It is wonderful to have wildlife nearby to enjoy xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird and amazing call. I like your pieced one, very effective. xx
ReplyDeleteFar too beautiful not to finish it and not be admired. Thinking you have had a birthday in the last few days. Big birthday kiss and hug to you.xx
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Your Tui is amazing! Looks so so real. No video for me either.
ReplyDeleteOoh, ooh, ooh! I love it! Some people are so talented! I wouldn't know where to begin to make up a foundation pieced pattern. Can't wait to see how you work this into a finished project! XO
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird! I loved hearing it on the video.
ReplyDeleteGreat foundation paper pieced version of this beauty.
Wonderful tui pics Raewyn! And yes, it would be a shame not to make something with the pieced tui too!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of the real one. I've never seen one. Love the paper pieced one, too. I'll love seeing what you do with it.
ReplyDeleteDear Raewyn,
ReplyDeleteI´ve never heard about this endemic NZ-bird, but looks quite agile. Your paper pieced block really just turned out very, very nice!
Many hugs
sigisart
Gorgeous Tui photos, they are the very best singers. The Tui patchwork is pretty cool too.
ReplyDeleteBoth the bird and the quilty bird are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird. No wonder you are happy to them around. I love your fabric Tui. Great job. Thanks for introducing us to the Tui. I had not heard of them before.
ReplyDelete