Grub's up for picky young Kookaburra

Straight after spitting out a locust forced upon it by one parent, young Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) shows enthusiasm for softer fare offered by second parent (at Crystal Creek, south of Ingham, on rainy Thursday). Picky, picky picky!  

Rainbow Bee-eater big on dragonflies

Parent Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) lands with dragonfly for junior perched above Palm Creek at Mungalla Station today. Just one of many such feeds judging by junior's size.

And another, tighter, shot of Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)  from the other day near Orient Station. 

Who's a pretty boy and boy and girl, then?

Been a good year for Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) sightings near Orient Station. Two males and female (left) brighten a rusty stretch of barbed wire.

A few more Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) sightings than common in Tyto lately. No way of telling whether they're boys or girls, but they're pretty, right?

Pretty special, too, male Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) in Tyto.

But few can open their mouths and compete with male Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto), a favourite near old stockyards at Mungalla Station. Pretty spectacular! 

Young Willie lucky and healthy survivor

Young Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) opens wide near Tyto hide.

Quick service guaranteed in past few days because - unusually - it's the lucky and only survivor of a probable clutch of three or four. It's a jungle out there, for Willies as for us all.

Black neck? You're having a laugh, aren't you?

What's in  a name? Nothing like  the truth when it comes to Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus).

'Black neck? That's a laugh,' said Mrs Stork, in Tyto, t'other day.  'My Rhynky's got a gorgeous neck, I reckon.'

'Too right, Eph,' said he.   They're right, of course, my lovely Jabirus.

Bustard big on necking

Mr Bustard (Ardeotis australis) out to drive the girls wild with his special take on necking.

Displaying his morning glory, a super-rack breast-sac.

Bit of a drag if it dangled all day.

He's always showing off, said another Mungalla local. 

Square-tailed Kite blinks at challenge

Rare raptor maybe, but some Tyto residents not impressed when Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) drifted in over the treetops yesterday. White-breasted Woodswallow gives blinking visitor the message.

But the brief time overhead was mostly plain and effortless sailing.

Even more splendid in the air over the main lagoon lately, Eastern Grass-Owl (Tyto longimembris). So close a bit of wing missed enclosure in the frame.

Brushing up on some backyard bottlers

Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus) on bottlebrush snatches spider (for nestlings occupying prime spot in fruiting palm frond) in my caravan park 'backyard'.

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) shows no interest in spiders, but plenty in backyard bottlebrush nectar.

Anything that interests Rainbows interests Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus).

Likewise, Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis), which often prefers to rise above the raucous antics of the lorikeets.

Watch out for big Black Butcherbird

Black Butcherbird (Cracticus quoyi) flies from Willie Wagtails furious and fearful at its invasion of their Tyto territory. Their nearby nesting young survived.

But not this obscured near full-fledged Yellow Honeyeater snatched from its nest in spite of desperate defence by outmuscled parents.

Better times - and better image - for another Yellow Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus) foraging in the wetlands.