Spectacled Monarch leads prickly chase

Much chasing through prickly mimosa and vine thickets led to this Spectacled Monarch (Symposiarchus trivirgatus) in Tyto.


Even more prickly adventures this weekend failed to capture images of two Cicadabirds and a male Lovely Fairy-wren. Worse yet, flushed a Grey Goshawk today and got no usable picture from seven or eight brief poses.

And attractive as this Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) is it was splendid red-black male I sought in vain for 30 minutes this morning.


Better news on the monthly count: 117 species for July, up six on May and June.

Elsewhere, first (not-so-sharp) sighting of most reliable migrants: two Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) near my favourite country road. Where, it turns out, not one but two Australian Pratincoles are overwintering.