Rainbow Lorikeets of Neutral Bay

It took a few months for things to really take off. Initially, I was visited regularly by a Currawong, which became remarkably comfortable around me and would even eat from my hand. Eventually, word must have spread, because once the Rainbow Lorikeets discovered the setup, they began visiting constantly. I mounted a simple stick to the balcony rail, and it quickly became their preferred landing spot. From there, they would sit calmly, preen, squabble, and observe their surroundings, all while allowing me to work extremely close. They are brave birds and far less skittish than many people might expect.

I started out using a general wild bird seed mix from Coles and noticed very quickly that the Lorikeets were selectively picking out the sultanas. That led me to buying sultanas separately for a while, but I have since moved to a proper powder based nectar feed, which they clearly prefer. Once that change was made, their visits became even more frequent and more relaxed.

Using my new Sony A6700 paired with the Sony 70–200mm lens, I am able to work very close to the birds without disturbing them at all. The autofocus performance of the A6700 is exceptional in this situation. Eye detection locks on confidently and stays there, allowing me to concentrate on timing, composition, and behaviour rather than worrying about missed focus. Shot after shot is sharp, and the birds appear completely unfazed by my presence.

If you ever needed proof of what a modern APS-C camera is capable of, particularly when it comes to subject separation and background blur, these images say it all. The background melts away beautifully, producing genuinely pleasing bokeh, while fine feather detail is rendered with impressive clarity.

All images shown are full frame from the A6700, with the exception of two that were lightly cropped during processing.