There were a group of around 5 of these Silvereyes up at the Ridge, and for some reason they were very tame whilst they were feeding on the wattles (as this one is doing). I got really close to some, provided that I did approach slowly and quietly.
Unfortunately I buggered a number of good opportunities. I am pleased with this shot, probably my best of a Silvereye so far, but I could have got quite a bit more if everything had gone according to plan.
This is a bird of the race lateralis, the nominate race, which breeds in Tasmania and winters on the mainland (it should probably head back now, I guess). The ones we normally have here are of the race familiaris, which has paler rufous flanks.
EDIT: It now appears that this is in fact a dark male (?) of the race westernensis, which I think is the regular one around NSW. Very confusing, and I don't think the Silvereye group is totally sorted out:) The race lateralis has a grey throat and darker chestnut on the flanks.
Africa (entire continent rather than south of Sahara)
AN
Antarctica
AO
Atlantic Ocean
AU
Australasia (Wallacea (Indonesian islands east of Wallace's line), New Guinea and its islands, Australia, New Zealand and its subantarctic islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu)
PAL
Eurasia (Europe, Asia from the Middle East through central Asia north of the Himalayas, Siberia and northern China to Japan)
IO
Indian Ocean
LA
Latin America (Middle and South America)
MA
Middle America (Mexico through Panama)
NA
North America (includes the Caribbean)
NO
Northern oceans
OR
Oriental Region (South Asia from Pakistan to Taiwan, plus Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Greater Sundas)