Adding something extra to Spotted Whistling Duck

So, too many Spotted Whistling Ducks lately? No, wait, this isn't yet another one on the new borrow pits in the Townsville Town Common Cons. Pk. Look closely and you'll see a Blue Percher on the rightmost waterlily flower head. So it's really an insect picture. Honestly!

Well, perhaps not totally honest. But you can't argue about image of Honeybee at borrow pits laden with pollen. Before the present somewhat disappointing rain.

What about mosquito sitting late yesterday afternoon on head of Green Pygmy-goose? Nothing much here to be proud of but it's the first half-decent picture with super-duper new camera-lens combo. Gonna be a steep and long learning curve, I think.

Here's a Frilled-neck Lizard yesterday showing off bulging tongue and looking rather prehistoric with it. Unseen, because cloned out, one of hundreds of cigarette butts in the area. 'Nature-loving' chain smoker parks regularly at site and leaves evidence of addiction littering it. Wait, 50 years ago I was doing more or less the same. Yeah, but times change. Right? Anyway, I've changed.

Closer look at little beauty

 Usually shy, Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus) allowed closer look on main lagoon this week.

Also sitting quietly, Wandering Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna arcuata).

Click pix to enlarge

Wet scenes swamp the dry season

Water, water everywhere - and it's the dry season! Recent Tyto scenes. Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus) pair on the main lagoon, close to capacity.

White-browed Crake (Amaurornis cinerea) steps down scleria toward water that would usually be at least 30cm lower at this time of year.  

Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) pauses between terrorising passing dragonflies, on perch that should be over drying mud.

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) shows wing spurs on flight past the lookout.  Nothing unusual here, watery background simply suits the theme.
Click pix to enlarge   

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.

Pardalote heralds the sunshine

Got first Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus) in six years at northeast corner Tyto late in 2009. Today, first of species seen (or heard) in heart of the wetlands.

Visible near footbridge to lookout for about three seconds after much distant 'witchy-chew'. Twitchy bird landed briefly in corkwood. Switched to taller paperbark. Vanished east.

Sun today, following three miserable wet and grey days. Above, Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus) not so showy under lowering sky. Below, Australasian Darter (Anhinga novehollandiae) reflects a washed-out morning.

Updates: Comb-crested Jacana eggs OK. Ditto, eight juveniles. Shining Flycatchers still at (but rarely on) nest.

Of note: three immature Dollarbirds came and went; ditto small dark Brown Goshawk