I hear you knocking but you can’t come in

Hello handsome!

Over the past fortnight we have been regularly visited by a Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla). Up to a dozen times a day it will hang on the flywire screens or cling to the rubber seals on the glass sliding doors, chirping loudly. These serenades can go on for up to five minutes.

Originally we thought it was searching the flywire for insects hidden there or maybe spider web with which to build its nest. However it often just hangs there singing to its own reflection. Whatever the reason, these visits do provide a rare opportunity to see up close what are referred to at our place as LBJs (little brown jobs).