Birds on wire, and slyer higher flier

Species catching the eye lately along my favourite country road include Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans): this bird one of about 100 flocking between unsealed road surface and barbed wire the other morning. 

No flocks for Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis). Not usually seen on barbed wire: too busy in grass and low bushes sharing scolding calls with partner. Species always sounds disgruntled. 

And Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) - sharing exactly the same habitat and conditions - usually sounds absolutely content. Interpreting bird sounds via human emotional responses is for the birds.

Finally, one for the birds in a strictly predatory sense, Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis). Smallest I've seen and presumably a male, bird seemed barely close to the 30cm of usual 30-35cm size range. But more than enough to scare most other birds in the area.
Click pix to enlarge 

Hobby's my bird: birds my hobby

Seldom see Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) in the wetlands, and even more rarely does one drop in and take the time to scrutinise the prospects of an easy breakfast. Bird didn't much fancy what it saw and took off before I could get closer than about 50 metres. I suspect its home base is along trees that line the southern boundary of Ingham airstrip, which abuts Tyto's southern edge.

Plenty of Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) sightings over past few months, but this bird popped up while I was trying to catch Rainbow Bee-eaters in flight on the coast at Lucinda yesterday. Put paid to my bee-eater hopes (which weren't panning out anyway!).

And while posting birds up trees, here's a shot of Tree Martins (Petrochelidon nigricans) atop a Leichhardt tree. Unlike the many more or less locally resident Fairy Martins and Welcome Swallows, Tree Martins appear for a month or two and depart for better aerial pickings elsewhere.

Which also suits the aerially competing White-breasted Woodswallows (Artamus leucorynchus) to a T (or a tree). This quartet today grouped snugly together (as is their habit) near the tree that supported the Tree Martins earlier in the week.