Raven leads best of wetland morning

Three birds, three very different stories from Rowes Bay Sustainability Wetlands in Townsville this morning.

First up, Australian Raven, one of two challenging the presence of recently arrived Channel-billed Cuckoos from across Torres Strait (along with Koels and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons).

Second, female Black-necked Stork, making imposing statement atop vines decorating dead acacia.

Third, Forest Kingfisher, the only one of the five seen through the morning posing near perfectly.

Bonus: an even better look at Forest Kingfisher, on nearby branch last week.   

Barking Owl not so barking mad

Barking Owl? Or barking mad? Looks like both, but evil squint is deceptive. Bird was unconcerned by my presence. Nor was it reacting to low-set flash. Owls appear sometimes to shut their eyes almost as we might yawn when things are all a bit quiet. A highlight among recent sightings in Tyto this week..

What else is around? Just one of 10 to 20 Forest Kingfishers on show these mornings.

More  Reed Warblers about in scleria with returns from south. Few, however, up in pandanus.

Yellow-spotted Honeyeater takes a break from preening in creekline tangle.

Little Bronze-cuckoo about as pale as the species gets.

And a young Crimson Finch feeding on seeds of grasses growing through footbridge.

Azures no sure thing

Pair of  Azure Kingfishers (Ceyx azureus) busy around one wide creek pond in Tyto lately. Finally snuck up one one bird yesterday, though didn't get quite close enough.

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) also hard to walk up on, so this bird was unusually tolerant but didn't respond to request to show off back colours. 
Click pix to enlarge  

Kingfisher quick to zoom off

Blustery easterlies (stirring up avian memories of Yasi?) depressing bird numbers in Tyto, though Forest Kingfishers (Todiramphus macleayii) an exception.

Almost impossible to sneak up on them, the least trusting of kingfishers. Above bird alighted briefly on cyclone-damaged pandanus before spotting me on track and zooming off.
Click pix to enlarge 

Kingfisher's fish catch of the day

Caught this Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) zeroing in near Tyto lookout.

Gotcha!

'Sharky' shadow.

Dinner spinner.

Lotus-lander.

Shining end to Butcherbird threat

Life and death drama for Shining Flycatchers (Myiagra alecto) after juveniles left nest on Friday. Saturday brought Black Butcherbird (big appetite for little birds).

But in more than an hour of searching neither Butch (ignoring throughout Shining parents' fluttering, rasping protests) nor I could find the youngsters.

Yesterday, no dramas. Parents on job (top two pix). No sign of Butch. Shining end!

Bit of shine from Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus) trailing glistening droplets as she takes to the air from the main lagoon. Three pairs settled in now.

Looking pleased with life, Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) wings over the lagoon. Most of the birds have quit the wetlands.

Not looking so sharp, Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) tucks in ready for landing on bush below lookout.

Stiffed for kingfisher answers

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) stiffly alert in Tyto the other day. Bird had been perched unconcerned above a creek pool and allowed approach to almost 12 metres.

Posture changed suddenly to ramrod straight. Bird stared intently up as it shifted about on branch for at least two minutes. No sight or sound to explain reaction. Similar poses when kingfishers squabble last a few seconds. The threat (goshawk? snake? avian paranoia??) passed, bird relaxed. Walk on none the wiser.

Little bit wiser about male Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus). Bird in Tyto yesterday shows better definition of blacks, though pose hides the red.

Also had another go at best of previous images, including cloning out branch acoss tip of tail. Better, but far from perfect.

Shining Flycatchers: male tried nest for size yesterday; also bringing material for female to place. Comb-crested Jacana sitting on 'nest' (minuscule raised patch 50 metres away atop floating leaves: eggs not visible) directly in front of Tyto lookout. And two week-oldish chicks spotted hiding within scleria in front of hide yesterday.

Kingfisher shows flying colours

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) shows some of its marvellous colours in taking off from scrubby brush on the edge of Tyto's main lagoon. Action came courtesy of another birder walking up the lookout knoll and spooking bird at just the right moment for me. Most days I'd not be so thankful for the intrusion.

Also glistening, but with less colourfulness, an Australasian Darter (Anhinga novehollandiae) sleekly glides toward touchdown on the waters of Tyto's entry lagoon. This bird and a Little Pied Cormorant share the small lagoon's spoils and drive off any others of their respective species that drop in.

And here's a bird that's had me flying about over the past few days. Black-faced Monarchs (Monarcha melanopsis) don't often turn up and when they do, unlike this bird, they tend to be juveniles. Much stomping of lantana and chasing through undergrowth today brought sightings and no worthwhile shots. Having more or less given up, I finally got this long-distance shot from the track (which most sensible visitors stick to! Could there be a lesson involved?).

Forest Kingfisher finally sits still

Finally found a Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) showing a bit of patience and trust at Tyto this week. Just couldn't encourage the bird to sit on a thinner branch and get into full sunlight (click top pic to enlarge).

The kingfishers are still sharing much of the saturated habitat with a lesser number of Sacreds. Earlier predictions of the Sacreds' disappearance by now have failed to hold up, because the heavy showers keep coming. As the rainfall tapers off, so will the Sacreds.

Interestingly, two Little Kingfishers continue to come and go from the creek system. Their variable presence may be explained partly by changes in conditions at some shaded pool areas. Previously open stretches of water have become overgrown, thus reducing the birds' hunting zones. 

The almost total lack of any Azure Kingfishers sightings in recent weeks may also be explained by the lack of pool water in shadow much of the day. I suspect the birds are choosing to stick to nearby heavier rainforest creek systems.

Sacreds the devil to catch in flight

Spent an hour today trying to catch Sacred Kingfishers (Toditamphus sanctus) in flight or on sodden open woodland ground as they pounced on small insects and reptiles. No success. Birds proved almost impossible to anticipate and were typically wary when I moved to unobscured positions.

This flight shot is offered as much in frustration as explication. There is something in the bird's bill, possibly a caterpillar, but I couldn't get close enough or steady enough for a satisfying picture. The Sacreds' numbers are building, however, so we'll have another go tomorrow.

Surprisingly, Forest Kingfishers (Todiramphus macleayii) have yet to dominate the pickings from the swampy grasslands and woodlands. But soon they'll be lining up like a blue and white army on fences and in trees and elbowing the Sacreds out of the picture. Six or so Sacreds will give way to 30-50 Forests.

Hard to elbow a Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) out of the way, though Willie Wagtails often try. Flood or drought, one or two pairs of Blue-wingeds maintain a quiet presence in Tyto's trees. This female allowed me close a few days ago. She completes the present set because there have been no recent sightings of Little Kingfishers, and the sole Azure seen has been but a high-speed blur.