Fairy Gerygones nest close to painful protector

Nothing to fear from Fairy Gerygone nest, right? Well, might pay to look just a wee bit closer at things in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park, Townsville.

Crafty birds have nest site close to formidable nesters, native paper wasps. These potent guardians are painfully free with sharp lessons - mostly facial - for the unwary. Don't mess with them!

Nest aside: birds' nest atypical, having entry at bottom rather than side. Very careful inspection will be made after young quit nest.

Bee-eater takes flight but others show no fright

Rainbow Bee-eater took flight this morning in the Townsville Town Common but a few other birds have been more camera friendly lately.

None more so than immature White-eared Monarch. Almost perched on lens today. Too close to focus. Naturally, whizzed away far beyond reach when it did decide to go. So, picture from earlier in week.

Yesterday, male Leaden Flycatcher had plenty to say along fire break between road and golf course. If the bill was turned a little more the bird might present as one of those bird or rabbit illusions.

Bit of a puzzle with juvenile Black-necked Storks this week. Three youngsters became four  yesterday. Seems a loner turned up and more or less joined the regular trio. Today, loner alone. No sign of juniors. Above, female parent yesterday.

Much smaller and harder to gain focus on, Fairy Gerygone two days ago stayed still long enough for an almost sharp shot.

And here's a reminder of the golden rule: don't be lured to eating fruit and berries because the birds in the bush are gobbling them up. Here's an Australian Raven chomping into Black or Deadly Nightshade. Black is deadly and ripe Deadly is black. Stick to Blackberries and leave black berries well alone.

Last, reminders of Tyto Wetland days in Ingham with one of the Common's Crimson Finches. Not many to be seen for a few months but they're popping up here and there these days. Not always quite so prettily as this male.

Cuckoo-shrike sets the tone

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis) lines up near Tyto info centre early today. 

Grey start leads to White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) from the holdover file.

Little bit brighter, male Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela), also from holdovers.

Finally, touch of sunshine this week, on Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa). Hard to capture these fast-moving little birds, usually high in crowded foliage.

Food on the wing - and the legs

Plenty of birds carrying food on the wing as breeding carries on apace. But not all in this selection were selflessly thinking solely of their young. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo leads the way (cropped too tightly, to show off caterpillar).

Fairy Gerygone with something bearing appearance of a spider but perhaps insufficient legs.

Young Welcome Swallows open wide in expectation, though it might appear they are screaming defiance at blurred Rufous-throated Honeyeater intruding into the picture.

And finally on theme of food on the wing, it's up and away from a blue water lily for two pollen-laden honeybees.

Sadly, no food - or anything else - being carried to Lovely Fairy-Wrens' nest. Since first found the nest gained final touches, then an egg, then all wrens vanished, and today the egg was gone. The search will start over again!

Warbler poses as Little Bittern

Having lost all the Little Bitterns - departed during the floods and yet to return - Tyto is pressing Australian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus australis) into service. Results so far are very encouraging, as can be seen in above picture.

Some might argue the deception will fool no one. Recent 'sightings' suggest otherwise. These include 'Grass Owls' (perhaps Pheasant Coucals or Goshawks) flying at noon, 'Yellow Thornbills' (probably Fairy Gerygone - Gerygone palpebrosa, above) high up here and there, and Lewin's Rails (almost certainly Buff-banded Rails) also out in the noon light.

Can't find an owl, but here's a Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) doing a very poor impression of Eastern Grass-Owl (Tyto longimembris). More training - and extensive makeup -obviously needed!

Who needs a flash new camera?

Had to trot out with old Panasonic camera today at Tyto after brain fade yesterday deleted some great pix from my Canon CF card. Will try using Media Recovery (after buying external CF card reader tomorrow) to get pix back. Anyway, today's Little Bronze Cuckoo (Chalcites minutillus - above) almost makes me wonder why I needed flash new camera and lovely 300L IS lens. Just joking, good old FZ30 seldom this sharp (because I was very close to bird!).

Here's something more like typical effort. Whistling Kite saw mature Black-necked Stork seeing off this maturing stork, and decided it also should play the bullyboy.

Earlier in week almost got a decent Fairy Gerygone shot.

Found this Northern Fantail looking up.

And chased after this Varied Triller, without getting a clean background.