Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Fancy flight and flight of fancy


Fancy flights and a failed flight of fancy stock the pre-Xmas blog stocking. First up, Green Pygmy Geese (Nettapus pulchellus) take off - trailing a few drops of water - across a scleria backdrop at the main lagoon yesterday.



Near perfect group of Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) flukily fills the frame. Lucky, uncropped shot offers range of wing variation and positioning. Not something to plan for. Unlike shot below of MG cruising over the lagoon.






Hard to plan for in-flight shot of immature Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus). Just the one bird, probably, and no set routine or favourite roost. But something spooked this bird the other morning and in its flap it scarcely noticed me watching an Oriental Cuckoo nearby (yes, the one that I missed in flight).



And here's a Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) passing beneath me at the Tyto lookout. Plenty of to-and-fro always with the species, but usually too far off.



Finally, today's picture that's just plain off. You can possibly see the plan, but nothing quite panned out. Didn't persist because parent Bush Thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius) was getting a bit toey. Season's grittings ...
  

9 comments:

Duncan said...

All the best Tony, and keep up the good work.

Tyto Tony said...

Thanks Duncan. Hope Santa brings something to end your run of bad luck. Here's to a 20-20 2010.

Denis Wilson said...

Hi Tony
Great shots and nice write-up.
My personal favourite is the Jacana.
.
But the Chick-Knee photo makes it a close thing. Weird look in the eye of the concerned parent.
Happy Christmas.
Cheers
Denis

Andy said...

Enjoyed the post and photos

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Denis: Jacana (still widely known as Jesus bird) fitting Xmas favourite. Chick-knee: nice coinage!

Hi Andy: Thanks.

Sebastian said...

Haha that stone-curlew is picking up its mother's glare quick smart!!

Merry Christmas Tony. Hope it's not as bloody humid where you are as it is here in Cairns!

mick said...

Hi Tony, - here's wishing you a good Xmas and holiday season. I like all of your blog stocking photos but the glare in the eye of the Bush Thick-knee is especially good!

Tyto Tony said...

Not quite so sticky, Sebastian, but it's getting very close (geddit?).

Hi Mick: Funny thing was the birds were in an unfenced front garden out near Lucinda beach. Did a tiny bit of trespassing to sneak up on them.

Have a good one tomorrow!

Russell Constable said...

Great shots as usual Tony. Have enjoyed your posts greatly this year and look forward to more of the same in the new one.Wishing you all the best for 2010 and thanks again for your stories and photos.

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