Two heads not always better than one

Two heads may often be better than one but not usually in bird pictures. Bush Thick-knees (Burhinus grallarius) above look well matched, but all too seldom do the heads show equal appeal. Nothing remarkable in the observation. It comes simply because a few pair pictures have cropped up.

Here's two Pied Oystercatchers (Haematopus longirostris) at Lucinda yesterday. One's almost sharp! Plenty of terns and various shore birds out on the sand bars. None close enough to camera (which came close to disaster when I became stuck in clinging mud).

Trip to coast in part to check on Striated Heron (Butorides striata) nesting by Dungeness boat ramp. Three juveniles in nest tree wouldn't gather for group portrait, so two had to do.

Back at Tyto, Wandering Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna arcuata) look to be enjoying bit of morning splash and dash. Some creatures appear to enjoy life more than others. Appearances, of course, are deceptive.  
Click pix to enlarge

Thick-knees stand up to pesky peafowl

Rare standoff pits Bush Thick-knees (Burhinus grallarius) against possibly predatory or maybe merely inquisitive Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in Ingham suburbia beside Tyto Wetlands yesterday. 

Flurry of wings followed before intruder departed to its own backyard nearby and left junior in relative safety.


Thick-knees are endangered in southern Australia but more than cope against cats, dogs, snakes and other birds here in the north. What's missing here? Foxes. Too simple? Yes, but I'd argue a big factor.


And another thing: Blogger in draft image uploads out today for two hours. Back up, and insert problems worse than ever. Seems odd the generous giant can't get such little things right.


And reply to CygnetBurger: why not right click on the image, save it, resize it to suit and then do whatever you wish with it on Facebook? Willie awaits .   
Click pix to enlarge   

Standing and delivering the goods

Caught this Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) adorning post on my favourite country road today. 

Some birds just stand around and yet command attention.

Bush Thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius) shows plenty of presence, at edge of new Tyto lagoon earlier in week.

And Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta) commands paperbark heights above another Tyto lagoon.

Standing out by standing around

Time to clear out some images that have stood around too long. First up, Bush Thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius) stands easy between cane train tracks near Ingham. Bird happily stood still till I tried lying down for more interesting angle. Quickly gone. It wasn't about to stand for any arty stuff!    

Standing tall in a shallow pool by the Bruce Highway just south of Ingham, a second year Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) coming into adult plumage. The parent birds and one of two other siblings are members in good standing of the Tyto Wetlands frequent fliers club. 

Finally, Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) stands watchful close to the Tyto hide. Not taken from the hide itself because its slatted upright boards - spaced for breezy ventilation - stand too far apart to hide those inside. Some birds will stand for shifting shadowy figures inside the hide, many will not. 

Cuckoo happy on the ground

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos (Chalcites basalis) spend more time on the ground than other cuckoos. (Yet are often seen in the open at the top of trees, after being first heard issuing their slightly melancholy whistling call.) They also appear more often than other cuckoos to take over care of their own young. After the parasitised parents have done the early hard work!

Here's junior today, with, I think, an Orange Dart (several similar species). The parent bird was taking caterpillars from the grass - and not doing much sharing. So I don't know if the butterfly was natural prey or just unlucky collateral damage as the juvenile learned the ropes.

Also popping up on the ground, a pair of Bush Thick-knees (Burhinus grallarius). Thick-knees??? Well, as I've just found, the accepted name guide for Australian birds, Chrisitidis & Boles 2008, drops Stone-Curlew in favour of Thick-knee. First time I've noticed the change. Not sure many birders use it. And, as you may see, the knees aren't that thick!