Mission Accomplished

My backyard has a selection of native plants I planted a few years ago, in the hope that native birds, particularly parrots, would one day come to feed on them. Three of the eucalypts died when the clay soil became waterlogged, but one, the Eucalyptus leucoxylon (yellow gum), has survived. I often see wattlebirds and white-plumed honeyeaters in this tree and the shrubs around it, but I was excited to see who dropped by for a visit today:

A pair of rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus)! They screeched to each other constantly as they ate, then suddenly went silent. They remained still and quiet for several minutes, as a hawk cruised far overhead.