Munching on mantids, preying on the praying

Munching on mantids, it's what Pacific Bazas do. Putting it another way, preying on Praying Mantises makes their mornings. Specially when most of the mantid is destined for young birds high in a nest.

Where's the nest? High above my head in a suburban park. Near the seaside. Nothing strange about that. Bazas appear right at home along the tropical North Queensland coast.

But it's not all juicy green mantids. Green tree frogs, not quite so well disguised, make an equally juicy target, though not quite so deliciously squishy.

 All up, great diet! Meaty greens, relatively low fat. Just the thing to keep youngsters growing and tireless parents going. And that's a must. As the Baza's call has it: Eee-chew, Eee-chew.  

Cormorant shuffles off mortal coil in python's coils

Water Python coiled around Little Black Cormorant beside pool in Townsville Town Common (03/11/24). Snake probably took bird in the water and dragged it up bank before being sighted as it was getting into the serious business of swallowing prey.

Roughly 30 minutes later, job done and snake, which had allowed myself and friend Wes Graffin to stay within touching distance, was fully alert and capable of swift movement, sliding quickly into para grass cover when touched lightly by hand.

 

And a bonus near same spot later in morning, Lesser Black Whipsnake gliding over part of drying lagoon.