Cassowary surprise on Mt Fox road

Out into drought country today for look at Ingham's modern(-ish) volcano, Mt Fox.

Road up the range runs through patches of rainforest. What else runs through rainforest? Big birds with big built-in helmets. Young male Cassowary feeding on seeds (and ignoring sweet lemons on ground nearby). Tried for close-up, but passing truck spooked bird.

What sits on dead branches above rainforest and dry-country trees alike? Rollers, or Dollarbirds (because of their big wing windows). Couldn't cash in on flight pictures because bird took off and didn't return.

And what soars majestically above Mt Fox? One of the six Wedgetail Eagles on view during the morning. (But missed any pictures of less common Varied Sitellas high in trees at base of Fox.)

Bonus rainforest bird (from last trip to Wallaman Falls), Superb Fruit-Dove, heard but unseen today near Cassowary area. 

Willies thriving; mozzies diving

Almost time to quit the nest for these three Willie Wagtails (Rhipidura leucophrys), handily located beside bench on southeastern section of Tyto track. Not pictured, hundreds of mozzies lining up for lingering photographers. 

Elsewhere today, terrible picture of Superb Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus superbus): a first for Tyto list.  Female showed up briefly with Scaley-breasted Lorikeets. 


Almost as rare, but not photographed, White-throated Nightjar (Eurostopodus mystacalis) flushed three times near track. No recent sightings of the more common Large-tailed Nightjar.  

Pacific Baza bulletin: One parent seen soaring: one junior heard at distance.     
Click pix to enlarge