Pitta parents among many in thick(et) of things

Busy time for Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) bringing food to nest too well hidden for me to locate at Jourama Falls. Should be easy, finding nest on ground, usually within rainforest tree buttress, but three lots of parents are outsmarting me.

Did get close to Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer) in the thick(et) of things at Jourama. Nature's so untidy!

Ditto with mangroves surrounding female Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) near Forrest Beach the other day.

And even more tree in the way of meeting with the world's largest moth, female Hercules (Coscinocera hercules), at Jourama this week. Even the camera conspired against me, locking out of focus for lost open-wing sequence. To gauge the moth's size make the leafy image 12" or 30cm diagonally. More gargantuan than herculean.

Just a glimpse of paradise

Much tromping about in the Jourama Falls creek forest lately chasing Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) after seeing breeding pair and an immature bird but only above image of male to display. The remains of twin white tail streamers are obscured. 

Better tale and tail with White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa) in the same forest another day.

And also recently with  Yellow-spotted Honeyeater (Meliphaga notata).

Pied Heron picks up pasture pool prey

Making the most of latest heavy rainfall, Pied Heron (Egretta picata) ventures from typical wetland habitat to pick up prey along edge of pasture pool near Forrest Beach east of Ingham today.

Bit too far across the water but caught some distant flight action.

Cassowary sits out conversation

Long chat with small male Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) sitting quietly in the rainforest along the road to Wallaman Falls today.

Any eggs under there? - No reply (but no).
Just tired, are you? -
Seen any hot females lately? -
Lot of rain this week, eh? -
See you later, mate. - Righto Tony (in my dreams!)

Others report another male with two young in the area. 

Golden head stands out in growing grass

Can almost see the grass growing by the minute around Ingham these warm and wet days, so plenty to hear but sometimes little to see along Orient Station fences today. Best of the morning, Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis).

Lots of noise from many Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis), but only one bird lingered for the camera.

Several groups of Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus). Not many sitting still however. They don't let the grass grow under their feet. 

Eastern Grass-Owls eye intruder

Might be last sightings of Eastern Grass-Owls (Tyto longimembris) for a while as tail end of Cyclone Dylan drenches swamp ricegrass habitat at the western end of the main Tyto Wetlands lagoon.

Male takes close look at intruder in his territory before the rains came.

Larger, more richly coloured female sets off for another ground-roosting spot.