Mangrove-loving honeyeaters divide at Townsville

About 2.5 million years ago some honeyeaters split and created identity puzzles playing out in  Townsville mangroves every day. Three species now: Mangrove Honeyeater (Gavicalis fasciogularis), Singing Honeyeater (G. virescens) and, above, Varied Honeyeater (G. versicolor).

Mangrove Honeyeaters, above, and Varieds were for many years thought to be variations of one species, yellower and larger to the north (of Townsville, as it turns out), less coloured and smaller to the south (to northern NSW). Singing Honeyeaters, sisters to Mangroves, but more distantly related to Varieds, took all the rest of Australia.

So,Varieds in Rowes Bay mangroves, north Townsville; Mangroves in Ross River mangroves 5km away in Townsville south. No mangroves in between. Iffy old reports of each being seen hundreds of kilometres on the wrong side of Townsville. Not iffy, and bearing on the present puzzle, genetic evidence of one-way traffic from Varieds to Mangroves. Thus, above two birds, seen in close interacting company this week south of Ross River (Mangrove HE territory), may be closer related than appearances suggest. (Too late for me, birding future will surely bring fast analysis in the field from droppings or feathers.)

Do Rufous Owls give a hoot about mozzies?

It's a little-regarded truth that most wildlife must suffer mosquitos (no plural e for me, thank you). No spray for them! Just today came a report that even earthworms suffer to satisfy the female mozzie's need to feed and thus to breed.

There are tales from Australia's past of various Aboriginal defences. Seems a particularly successful but drastic answer was to feast upon bats and flying foxes. Drastic because while the diet foiled mosquitos and other insects, it brought BO so powerful none could stomach being near bat-man.

So what to think of relations among, say, Rufous Owls when one clutches last night's kill through the next day? Mozzie repellent? Mate repellent? No worries, because owls lack much sense of smell? Whatever, got no answer from pair of birds near Ross River today.

Brown Snake proves an obliging subject

Wonder of wonders! Went out today geared up for snakes rather than birds and found an obliging 1.4m Brown Snake waiting patiently for me.

Very patient in fact. Lay motionless for series of long shots alongside much-used track between Pellarenda and Jacana hide in Townsville Town Commmon Conservation Park.

Sensed that I needed look at other side of head.

Must always get good look at the forked tongue. Then slid quietly away when I was done.

Bit like Red-bellied Black Snake a few days earlier. Apologies for single frame from bad video but be thankful I cut 50 seconds of boring inaction while I walked around another co-operative reptile.

And here's a placid Water Python happy to have me get close. So placid it didn't move when unaware passing hiker planted size 11s within 1.5m of its head. (Amazing what some fitness freaks miss seeing in their heedless headlong matches.)

But Freshwater Crocodile basking within 20 metres of popular Ross River walking path not so keen on posing for closeups. Stayed in place for an hour between being photographed as I birded in Ross River Bush Gardens and my eventual drive through suburbia. But hit the water in a hurry when I tried sneaking within 10 metres.

'Disembarking' Sea Eagle lands big catch

White-bellied Sea Eagle sends chunk of bark flying as it lands big Tilapia along Ross River in Townsville.

Barking up the wrong tree with third owl

Woofwoof, woofwoof, woofwoof. Barking Owls. Hear them, then go looking for them. None of that night-time nonsense stumbling about in the dark. Birds gave the game away in the Palmetum alongside the Ross River this morning. So, two owls sitting quietly in shaded tree cover near riverbank. But what's making series of low trills in the same area? Back-of-the-throat 'grlllllckgrlllck'. On and on, without movement or clue to identity.

Try in vain to picture any bird with such a call. Nothing! Calls stop. Owls settle down after sitting out dives and whingeing from four Spangled Drongos. Then I finally spot third owl, tucked into darkest section of thick foliage. Bit of mutual glaring before birds blinks ... apologetically - I like to think - for the vocal trick. Not only wise, sneaky too, some owls.