The pohutukawa and its friends

This is the pohutukawa tree in our backyard. As many of you might remember, pohutukawa honey is my favorite kind. They call it the 'whitest' honey in the world because of its very light color.  (note one of the sidebar stories) 

This tree is a sweet treat even before the bees work their magic on its nectar. Jeanne reminded me, while I was taking pictures for this post, that it produces so much nectar that if you are standing beneath the tree at this time of year, you might actually get dripped on. 

Take a closer look at this flower.

It's composed of multiple red stamens, each with its little yellow anther, which carries the pollen, on the end. At the base, you can see the cup-like structure that holds the pollen.  

Here is a closer look with the stamens around one of the 'cups' removed.  

I took this picture on Thanksgiving day and I noticed that every cup I saw was empty of nectar. The one in this picture had just a little bit along one side.  I tried to taste it and I think I tasted a hint of sweetness. I should have tried to taste the nectar as soon as they started to bloom.  

Birds love this tree. For about the last week, I've been sitting on our deck with my camera ready, watching hordes of them feasting on its goodness. 

Getting these pictures wasn't easy. The birds are small and naturally fast, and I think this nectar works on them much as energy drinks work on teenagers. The birds literally rocket around the yard.   

It's a good thing cameras are digital these days, because I'd go broke buying enough film to get the pictures I have. I've been deleting about 90% of the shots I took. I could show you dozens of pictures of parts of birds. Or of the tree where a bird had just been.  

The good ones I've put together for you.  I hope you enjoy seeing who has come to the banquet that New Zealand's 'Christmas Tree' provides.  

A female bell bird we think. The Maori name is korimako

This is a silver eye.

Plain old English sparrow

Now let's zoom in even closer to see another visitor.  

Getting these bee shots was really tricky. The red stamens are hard for the camera to focus on. They're not solid like flower petals are. They're hundreds of thin filaments that are in constant motion from the wind. 

Finally, my last shot is of a blackbird visiting. It's the first of it's species I've seen in our tree and it didn't stay long, never giving me a decent look. I took this photo through a kitchen window on a cloudy morning so the colors are not as intense.

I do like how the spots on the bird's back and rump seem to reflect the yellow anthers on the stamens.  And notice how the feathers on the back of its head almost look like wavy hair. 

And since you can't see its face in the picture above, I'll add another shot so you can. The one below shows you its profile as it stands on the lawn. Actually, the bird on the lawn came by a couple days later, and in bright sunshine.  

I said early in this post that the pohutukawa is called the 'Christmas Tree.' That's because it blooms during the Christmas season. This year, our tree is early. I took the picture of the tree that starts this post on Thanksgiving day!  And it is showing more blooms than it has ever done before. A record book year.          -djf

UPDATE:

While I was talking with Mary on the phone this morning, a parrot, or more exactly, an eastern rosella, landed in our pohutukawa.  What a thrill!  Here it is...

(Thanks to Dory for identifying the bird)