Peregrination speeds from kestrel to ibis

Peregrine Falcon wafts easily on breeze below Bald Rock in Town Common Cons. Pk, Townsville, today. Nothing like so purposeless when first seen, as black blur hurtling at Nankeen Kestrel low over the flats near the rock. Last-second side slip saw Kestrel safe. Falcon's return attack lacked resolve.

Surprise came bit later when falcon flew from dead White Ibis at edge of mangroves. Stayed within sight of the corpse but showed no sign of speedy return to it. Dead bird probably explains circling presence and minor aggression among six Whistling Kites in the general area. At no time, however, did any of them land or even fly low close to the ibis. Falcon had plucked some of neck. No clear cause of death.

Other raptors in broader area this morning: two White-bellied Sea-Eagles, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Swamp Harrier, Black Kite.

Good news, good sense put sparkle into the day

Just the thing to brighten our Covid-19 days. Sparkly treasure from the not so sparkly Common Crow butterfly.

Down in the mouth? Cheer up. Good news is burrowing frog got to live another day when tree snake lost grip of things.

Woe is the Bush Stone-curlew's lot? Course not. Sun's shining and that's a happy look. Unhappy stare can curl the toes and turn the unwary to stone.

Are you washing your hands and staying socially distanced? White-bellied Sea-Eagle knows what's good for it.

As does Intermediate Egret. Wouldn't come within 10 metres, let alone two, in the Common this morning.

Don't be a goose. Play it safe, is the way to go. 'Coz we've got a long way to go yet.

Woodswallows would swallow whatever came their way

Aerial action aplenty as White-breasted Woodswallows compete for variety of flying prey at golf club carpark bordering Town Common Conservation Park, Townsville, yesterday.

Doesn't look terribly tasty, does it? But the woodswallows would swallow whatever came their way.

Birds and birdwings fit images for green theme

Young (and so yellow-green) Blue-faced Honeyeater shows off colouring in golf course garden beside Townsville Town Common Conservation Park today.

Everything coming up green down below after plenty of rain lately, but black male Koel stands out while taking a break from preening today atop nearby paperbark.

Pheasant Coucal amid fresh shoots of grass on ground that was parched brown not so long ago.

Not so many Cairns Birdwings around this season. And not so commonly seen on mangroves but fitting image for green theme.

More to mangroves than honeyeaters

Giant Mudskippers are big on taste - bathed in clean water for a few days - so they say. Dried and served for breakfast, they'd then become mud's kippers, I suppose. But what do I know? Only this week did I discover that 'St Peter's Fish' is the dreaded scourge of our waterways, the Tilapia. Idle thoughts while chasing Mangrove Honeyeaters along the banks of the Ross River mouth, Townsville, recently.

Silver Gull probably not too interested in name of small silver fish it chanced upon nearby.

Whimbrel came along to stalk same stretch of sand soon after. Too late. It's not only worms that go to the early bird.

Grey-tailed Tattler more at home chasing after sand worms but bridge breakwater makes safe high-tide refuge.

Also brief base out in the open for Bar-shouldered Dove before a return to the mangroves.

No Mangrove Honeyeaters (previous post)? Later . . .