Takes a Sheila to show Aussie birders Satin rarity

Oooh, look! What's that shiny black and white bird? It's so smooth and black on back and head. Could it be a rarely seen Satin Flycatcher in the Common today. Yes, it could. And it took a visitor from Wiltshire way, Sheila Ashley, to see it first. Proving that one good turn deserves another, she and husband Paul were being shown around by Len and Chris Ezzy. I tagged along. Lucky all of us.

Not so much luck involved in seeing a few other species commonly seen lately. Rose-crowned Fruitdove seems content to stay forever close to favourite feed trees near Freshwater hide.

Which is close to where immature Australian Raven was today tucking into fish, without parents or sibling trying to cadge a bite.

Not so many Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at Pandanus viewing area today, but caught some showing off in recent times.

Male Barking Owl certainly not one to show off, but every now and then he glowers for the camera.

More glow than glower from Nankeen Night Heron, missing today from Melaleuca hideout but almost whitewashed me nearby just the other day.

Much noisier and more easily spotted, adult Dollarbird one of four calling and shifting position often this morning near Payet Tower.

But no sign today of immature Spectacled Monarch, above with, I think, Crane Fly.

Crimson Finches seldom fail to turn up, nor did they today.

And one of highlights for Sheila and Paul, apart from the Satin of course, male Great Bowerbird busy, busy, busy about his bower. Happy too, crest-risen, as opposed to crestfallen.

What a pity we're too far northeast for Satin Bowerbird and Satin Flycatcher in one day. That'd just be greedy though, eh?

Young Dollarbird hints at colour to come

Young Dollarbird obliged by sticking to low perch in the Common today. Lots of colour to come, but that'll have to wait till next season as most of the species are likely off north already.

Bit of cloning done to get rid of some pesky twigs.

Too much to clone out, so Yellow Honeyeater cops a tight crop.

Same with White-throated Honeyeater: does provide close look at feather detail.

Lucky to get any detail of Spectacled Monarch, which flittered through tangled understorey for more than 10 minutes before I could get partially clear view.

Wandered around parking area with this Magpie for a few minutes today. They seem unconcerned by constant chatter from me, in spite of doing most of their hunting by listening for prey underground.

Pied Monarch spied mantid

Pied Monarch (Arses kaupi) with unlucky (and unidentified mantid) at Jourama Falls (25km south of Ingham).

Chased after foraging bird the other day using tripod as wobbly monopod. But bird mostly too quick!  

Also at Jourama, Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris) out of the shadows - for once - along Waterview Creek.

And a Spectacled Monarch (Symposiarchus trivirgatus) showing off rich colours.
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Monarch on a mossy 'throne'

Search for Noisy Pittas in Broadwater Forest Park today collected a few blurred images, many mosquito bites and a mixed bag of other birds, starting with Spectacled Monarch (Symposiarchus trivirgatus) on deep mossy nest. Species busy breeding and feeding throughout the rainforest park, 40km west of Ingham.

Grey-headed Robin (Heteromyias cinereifrons) willing as always to pose briefly. Earlier, came upon a Grey-headed being dive-bombed by two (much smaller) Pale Yellow Robins.

Conflict also seen between Lemon-bellied Flycatchers (Microeca flavigaster), but this bird was just getting on with foraging.

Last, but for size of catch not least, Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) about to finish off small skink (one of the many copper-heads).
Click pix to enlarge     

Spectacled Monarch leads prickly chase

Much chasing through prickly mimosa and vine thickets led to this Spectacled Monarch (Symposiarchus trivirgatus) in Tyto.


Even more prickly adventures this weekend failed to capture images of two Cicadabirds and a male Lovely Fairy-wren. Worse yet, flushed a Grey Goshawk today and got no usable picture from seven or eight brief poses.

And attractive as this Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) is it was splendid red-black male I sought in vain for 30 minutes this morning.


Better news on the monthly count: 117 species for July, up six on May and June.

Elsewhere, first (not-so-sharp) sighting of most reliable migrants: two Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) near my favourite country road. Where, it turns out, not one but two Australian Pratincoles are overwintering.

Getting it in the neck

Getting a sore neck looking up at birds does have some compensations. Some birds have their best feature tucked away under the bill. Male Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis) leads off these examples from the past few days in Tyto.

Mature Spectacled Monarch (Symposiarchus trivirgatus) has plenty of colour to offer those peering up from down below.

Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) doesn't often demand neck-stretching exercises from observers as it walks by with straw-like plumes showing on its neck.