One or two Christmas goodies from the Town Common

Saved up one or two goodies for Christmas. Only those who have been good this year are allowed to look . . .  Are you sure you've been good? OK then. Start with best near crash of the year. Question: Should the light Whistling Kite with the height on the right have given way? Near thing over Melaleuca viewing area in Town Common Cons. Park, Townsville.

Same area, best long watch on one bird, Eastern Yellow Wagtail. Sightings over several weeks eventually brought a few closeup pictures of uncommon long-distance migrant. Not great, but best of my 15 years chasing the species around Townsville and Ingham.

Also same area, also long-haul migrant, also not so common, Little Curlew. Tip for those seeking to get close to these wary birds. Get down and crawl or creep slowly. No, slower than slowly, with pauses. Dress accordingly.

And if the rarities aren't around? Just stand still near suitable para grass and wait for Golden-headed Cisticola to announce itself happy to be photographed. Scores of the species busy most recent mornings at Melaleuca. Hundreds all up in the Common.

Not so willing to pose for pictures, nor anywhere near so numerous, Dingo pauses during morning patrol along edge of para grass at Melaleuca. Good year for the species with research showing they are not the genetic 'mongrels' many have claimed them to be. (Sadly, in my experience, the worst in the Common have two legs, drive utes, and enjoy roadkills.)

Most at risk on the road: snakes. Good thing then this Lesser Black Whipsnake was sharing a track with me on a recent morning. I'm no expert, but the species seems to have longer breeding season than others in the Common. Pairs sighted twice in last two weeks circling interwreathed before breaking off encounters through my intrusions, months after start of breeding.

Cuter by far for most nature lovers (though not so much in NZ), Brushtail Possum. Seen in residence atop pole supporting Payets Tower hide in the Common.

Cute, but not totally so given female Agile Wallaby's liberal coating of nasty black mud on forepaws, joey eyes the camera. Seconds later as I twisted the camera around to portrait mode for fuller picture the joey lost all interest, turned away, and the moment was gone.

Back to the birds for one last lingering stare from pair of Barking Owls. They've set up roosts near a hollow with an unfortunate history, probably for these same birds. Two breeding efforts in the past two years have led to eggs but no live young. This pair show no signs of reoccupying the hollow. But another pair at nearby Cape Pallarenda Con. Pk recently produced two healthy youngsters. We must just wait and see.

Melaleuca sunset. Sorry, couldn't find any birds willing to fly across the dying Sun. Next Christmas maybe. Happy festive season to all!