The Lookout

“The Lookout”(New Holland Honeyeaters)  Original Acrylic on Stretched Cotton Canvas 61cm x 76cm

Stephen’s Inspiration: “As they are commonly found in the Blue Mountains where my wife and I love to visit, I love to be surrounded by one of Australia’s best natural beauty’s and see wildlife including the Honey Eaters in their natural habitat. This is always a special moment. Watching them continually flying from flowers to flowers being key pollinators for some of Australia’s native plants like the banksia or acacia. In a small brief moment I captured which I wanted to depict in this painting, where you can see a small gathering and the head of one Honey Eater look up as it is perched on the apex of the flower. Like being the leader who is in charge to keep a safe look out for the others as they find their place. Then with a sudden call and as quick as they had arrived, they are all gone in another direction and out of site. Only to be heard again in the distance among the tranquillity of the mountains”.

New Holland Honey Eaters are among the first birds to be scientifically described in Australia, and was initially named Certhia novaehollandiae. Being that it is a highly active bird, it is very rare to capture a small group that sits long enough to give an extended view.  When danger approaches a New Holland honeyeater, such as a bird of prey, a group of honeyeaters will form together and give a warning call.

Original painting by Stephen Bennett