Fantail with Tail Out (Piwakawaka)
The New Zealand Fantail (Piwakawaka) is one of the most loved native birds. They are usually very friendly, and hang around you in the bush or bush margins, hoping you will stir up some insects. They catch insects on the wing, and are blessed with whiskers either side of their beaks that assist with trapping insects.
This photo was taken with my first digital camera, the Olympus E-1 with the superb 50-200 mm f2.8-3.5 lens. I had driven my recently graduated daughter from Palmerston North to Manunui, Taumarunui for an interview for a teaching position at Manunui Primary School back in 2005. While she was being interviewed, I went for a walk with my camera and was fortunate to capture this image. This image is still one of my best Fantail images, as it showcases their beautiful tails
