Superb Fairy-wren and his rich plumage

Had a chuckle Martin: the first blue wrens I managed to capture on film at all (in over 4 years in WA) were this past January and they certainly love hanging out where I captured them- in the leftover pancake syrup at the Pemberton Lavender and Berry Farm (must do breakfast if you're in the area!)!

Wrong lens on camera, under the shade cloth, dirty dishes:  captivating isn't it?  Not!

But a couple of weeks ago, I ran away from home for the day and went to the Araluen Botanic Gardens in the hills outside Perth.  While it's still not perfect (would have preferred to see his tail too), I was thrilled to capture this one and really like the effect of the grass tree in the background too.  Complete luck that I captured him:  I was on a trail, rounded a tree, and snapped as fast as I could as soon as I saw him.  The camera was on it's previous settings for a macro in the sun of a honey bee!  Would love C&C's:  are the images you guys have shared cropped even with the 40-150 Pro?  These were my "insurance" shots because I knew they were fast.  Sure enough, by the time I zoomed and adjusted my exposure he was gone!  Could I have done any better/gotten any sharper hand held with the 75-300 kit zoom?  Would I have had time to use a RDS if I had one?

Seriously beginning to suffer a bit of GAS as I contemplate the 40-150 and teleconverter...

These others are from the same burst, and while not sharp as he flies away, I can't bring myself to delete them.  It was such a delightful surprise, it must be why they call them "fairy" wrens:  it's like a spot of magic to see one!

He's already on the move in this one, so it's not as sharp as the first.

Don't know how I didn't see this thread earlier!  I would say a full-frame blue wren in perfect focus is certainly on my photographic bucket list!  Thanks for sharing everyone!