What is a big fig tree other than a giant bird feeder? (I am shameless tagging Hive account@rynow who mentioned in my previous post's comments that he sees his fig tree as a giant bird feeder because he can never get some figs for himself before the birds massacre the harvest. I am lucky to have harvested a big bowl or two! I am also using his clever comment for my post name!) I managed to steal some time this morning to sit underneath the fig tree for an hour or two. Did this not turn out to be a blessing! I know that the birds love the fig tree and they usually visit in the mornings. So I grabbed my camera and sat underneath the tree. So many friends visited! It was a feeding frenzy.

White-backed mousebird (Colius colius)

Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens)

Some of them got scared by my camera and my movements. Then another flock arrived. It felt like a bird network or highway. By far the most common was the cape white-eye. I am not sure if they can break the figs open themselves, but they target the already broken figs. I counted at least 10 per flock that swooped into the tree. Their happy chirping brings so much joy to me! How one tree like this can attract so many bird friends is amazing.

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

I think most South Africans do not like starlings. They are really loud and messy. In any case, I do not like them because they arrive in flocks and eat all the fruit. The cape white-eye and mousebirds normally eat very little and they fly away quickly when you walk into the garden. The starlings, on the other hand, are very cocky and arrogant. I walk next to them and talk to them and they just look at me like I am the crazy one. They also eat so much and because there are so many they can desecrate the harvest. But I cannot get over how pretty and beautiful they are. The dark feathers with the white spots. Even though I do not like them, I cannot stop looking at them. How beautiful the destruction of the figs!

Juvenile or Fermale Cape weaver (Ploceus capensis)

Perched on top of the fig tree where the highest figs hide, sits a lonely (what I think is a) Cape weaver. Eating the figs and looking like he/she is the ruler of the Kingdom of Fig-landia, he/she shines self-confidence. I try to follow them but they are so quick! They are not so shy but they are always very quick. They grab a couple of fig seeds, maybe a twig or two to build their nest, and off are they! It is only on rare occasions that they visit my garden. How lucky that I could snap a photograph this morning.

It is not often that I get nice photographs of the mousebird. They are so shy! It always frustrates me when I get into a place to take photographs and the slightest movement scares them away. I was lucky this morning that two flocks visited the fig tree. The first one I obviously scared away with my movements, but then the second flock did not notice me! I captures some of these photographs which I think came out nicely. What a stunning bird! They are some of my favorite.

And how can I not end with some cape white-eye butt photographs! They move hysterically and quickly up and down and across the fig tree. This gives me time to take some photographs of them from different angles. There is always a butt photographs included! They are just so cute and fuzzy.

I hope you enjoyed these photographs of hungry and happy bird friends feasting on my figs! As noted from the start of this post, I concur with my friend that this fig tree is just one giant bird feeder. Thanks again for the wonderful idea! All of the photographs were taken with my old Nikon D300 with a Tamron 300mm Zoom lens. Stay safe and happy birding!

P.S. Enter: A Big Bug!

I got distracted by a really loud noise. I look around and see this big yellow bug flying towards the fig tree. It also wants in on the action! Or maybe it got lost due to all the bird action.