Feisty Fred

is the name we've given this tui who, seems to think he's king of our kowhai tree. Usually he sits in the tree or high in the silver birch next to it and chases away any bird that comes too close. Sometimes he hides in a tree about 20 metres away and then swoops on anything that happens to pass by. It's only when a big flock of tuis arrive and feed in a frenzy that he loses control but five or ten minutes later they fly off to the next tree and he is there by himself again.  I have attached a few extras which show how they extract the nectar from deep into the flower with their long beak and tongue. The last one isn't a good quality photo but shows the number of birds on just one smallish branch of the tree  to give an idea of the numbers which desend in a pack.  Friday aready. Have a lovely weekend everyone