Noisy Pitta plays role as silent partner

Friendship time at Jourama Falls today with Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) showing remarkable lack of concern at my presence in its patch of drying rainforest. The bird was standing quietly at base of cluster fig tree as I walked along track linking the camping ground with short length of road to the falls parking area.

It paid no attention as I struggled to ground and wriggled this way and that to get a view unblocked by leaf litter and weeds. Then came an extended conversation as I circled the bird. It picked at fallen fruit, then went on to turn over leaves and litter in search of meatier fare. More than 10 minutes passed before the Pitta pattered off. At any next meeting the bird will almost certainly exhibit no such unconcern. Magical moments come on nature's terms, not ours.

Noisy Pitta pops out, Grey Fantail pops in, pup pops up

Few calls and even fewer sightings of Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) at Jourama Falls lately.

So, lucky to find one active within grove in middle of camping area today.

Didn't manage to get down to ground level in front of the bird but at least it came out in the open.

Also busy in the same grove, Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa).

An odd extra to the local colour, toy pup left parked in the camping area.

An Azure deep in the darkness

Hiding deep in the early-morning darkness leading to Jourama Falls today, Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) allowed just one flash and was off down the creek at high speed.

Slower speed from the water tumbling through the grove and under the walkway across the creek. No birds hidden anywhere in above image (to show I'm not obsessed!).

An earlier visit to Jourama caught this immature Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) standing still for a second. Species mostly quiet and much harder to find now. 

Pitta parents among many in thick(et) of things

Busy time for Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) bringing food to nest too well hidden for me to locate at Jourama Falls. Should be easy, finding nest on ground, usually within rainforest tree buttress, but three lots of parents are outsmarting me.

Did get close to Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer) in the thick(et) of things at Jourama. Nature's so untidy!

Ditto with mangroves surrounding female Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) near Forrest Beach the other day.

And even more tree in the way of meeting with the world's largest moth, female Hercules (Coscinocera hercules), at Jourama this week. Even the camera conspired against me, locking out of focus for lost open-wing sequence. To gauge the moth's size make the leafy image 12" or 30cm diagonally. More gargantuan than herculean.

Noisy Pitta and noisy others

Lots of noise from the bush, too much noise in pictures ... Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) near Jourama Falls

Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris) near Wallaman Falls

Tooth-billed Catbird (Scenopoeetes dentirostris) near Birthday Creek Falls

Pale-vented Bush-hen (Amaurornis moluccana) near fallen forest, Ingham.

Pitta pictures not so flash

Caught up with Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) at Jourama Falls twice this week only to be caught out with too much flash when bird left the dark forest floor.

And it just would not look down at me (maybe looking down on me?).  

Why can't they simply walk up the road into shot like helpful Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) near Wallaman Falls a while back?

Or link up with me by posing at Taylors Beach, like this Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)?