Sharp eyes even without promised whizzbang tech

                              

Still waiting for my pre-ordered in-demand mirrorless Canon R5 camera rushed to market to do battle with Sony's groundbreaking A9. Both offer super fast autofocus on the eye (not sure how systems cope with two - and more - eyes). Anyway, above, some recent eyes, sharp enough even though shot without latest whizzbangery. 

Last straw too much for Double-barred Finch

Townsville Common Cons. Pk, track to Jacana hide, today. Flew off a second later with lighter load.

Oriole gets the juices flowing

Yummy! Self-creaming breakfast. Olive-backed Oriole gets juices flowing in the Townsville Common yesterday after bashing caterpillar catch against a branch. Two Orioles were among a wee wave of insectivores not often seen in the park recently.

In the same casuarina as the Oriole, immature Rufous Whistler takes smaller prey. (Seen in same tree, but no usable images, Restless Flycatcher and Spectacled Monarch).

Today, came across Rainbow Bee-eater intent on tiny prey emerging from road metal. Tiny flying ants, I think, though nothing found upon search after bird flew off.

Easier task obtaining food for granivores. But Double-barred Finch mistimed grab at tiny flower, presumably carrying wee seed. Several finches were busy picking at the plants.

Nutmeg Mannikin (formerly Spice Finch, latterly Scaly-breasted Munia: what goes round ...) sticks to grass seed. (An uncommon four flocks of 8-16 Nutmegs seen this morning, about double usual numbers).

When you've GOT to go, you've gotta go

Got up early and got down to waiting for some sunshine to get Australian Reed-Warblers up and going in their stretch of Common Reed (aka Bamboo Grass and got more names). Got good shot of bird near top of reed stem.

And got lucky with bird that had just got lucky.

Also got up close to one of several Crimson Finches getting active in small Pandanus.

Got these shots of Crimsons the other day.

Got Leaden Flycatcher hopping on Pandanus branch.

And got female Olive-backed Sunbird getting into nicely colour-matched nectar-flower.

Got to get Double-barred Finch on to today's list.

Now, got to get to the GOT:
Onya, Arya! Starkest of the Starks. Cracking opening to season 7

Gotta go now.

Green Pygmy-geese back on water - and in trees

Water, water everywhere. Well, not quite yet. But the seasonal pools at Townsville Common started to refill with a weekend of needed heavy showers. Among wetland species returned today, six Green Pygmy-geese, three of which landed on one branch after taking to the trees upon being scared off the water.

Puddle on the road provided water enough for Double-barred Finch's morning wash. Splish-splash and the droplets fly.

Male Varied Triller tied up with more serious business, collecting spider web for nest building. There's more rain to come, meantime there's work to be done.

Crimsons charting course to the top

Bad news for all those fed up with endless images of Crimson Finches from Tyto. You're in danger of finch flood from Townsville Common.

But it's not my fault. Deep research (10 minutes on ebird) this morning reveals the Crimsons are taking over. From none (yes, none) listed in 2009, Crimsons now rank more or less equal with Double-barreds in sighting frequency and numbers. Left trailing, Chestnut-Breasted Mannikin and Scaly-breasted Munia (Nutmeg Mannikin), which just five years ago ruled with Double-barreds.

What's more (or maybe less, who knows?), Crimsons like water, and Townsville's been particularly dry for 5-6 years.

But so as not to be accused of speciesism, here's the other finch frontrunner.

Can DBs keep up with competition? I suspect they're slightly less adaptable. So, my money's on the Crimsons if the conditions that have brought about the dramatic change in their numbers, whatever they may be, continue. They'll outbreed the others.