Crocs lapping up the sunshine

Is the croc still enjoying freedom and laughing at the high-tech trap in Tyto?

Yes indeed. It's moved sunning spot slightly east and by no more than happenchance a wee bit farther away from the trap.

Meanwhile, smaller croc at Mungalla is in pool barely deep enough to dive into.

Perhaps the nearby deeper pools contain too many dangers - bigger brothers or sisters.

Up early to spot more Spotlesses

Up early to catch Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) or two out on the drying weed mat in front of the Tyto hide today.

The red-eyed 'chocolates' stand out in the light but fast melt into the scleria shadows if second thoughts arise.

And on to three cases of second thoughts, images processed but set aside and later redone. So ...

... Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica)

... Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

... Dragonfly in flight: rare successful exercise with 300mm lens and manual focus.

Masked Lapwing youngsters stand out

Cute youngsters showing out in wetlands these days, without often standing around for picture, so happy to come upon pair of Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) juveniles up close at Mungalla Station.

Pretty sure I've got them both: their parents weren't much help.

Very helpful in Tyto  the other morning, my favourite White-browed Crake (Amaurornis cinerea). The more I talk the closer the bird walks.

Unlike distant Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis) in Mungalla today. Flighty migrant kept whizzing across muddy Palm Creek, forcing me into gumboots. Much squelching came to nothing much bar a boot full of mud and salvinia. Still, first sighting for me this season. 

Comings and goings on amid the Metallics

Couple of mornings catching up with Metallic Starling (Aplornis metallica) comings and goings in Ingham rain tree.

Coming in to furnish finishing touches to mass nests.

Accidental decoration adds point of interest.

Happy ruffle, no kerfuffle.

Some workers do give a fig ...

... but maybe not all.

White-browed Crake stepping out

Weed mat in front of Tyto hide starting to offer footing and  feeding White-browed Crake (Amaurornis cinerea) finds just right. 

Birds look right at home in the scleria too. Spotless Crake today also out briefly, but too quick for the  camera. Tomorrow ...

Hands and knees see success with Thick-knees

Bit of hands and knees work got me seeing eye to eye with Bush Thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius) at Lucinda today.

And sprawl in the sand drew attention of resident Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris), with sugar jetty as background.

Also at home on the sandspit today, but pictured a while back, leucistic Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), with more typical brown bird of species.

Another sandspit specialist also previously photographed and singing cheerily as always today, Varied Honeyeater (Lichenostomus versicolor).

Not so commonly found amid the arc of low mangroves 200 metres from  the shoreline, Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides), one of several today in the honeyeaters' domain. Flight picture minor consolation making up for odd lack of usual resident Collared Kingfishers, unsighted in three recent sandspit walks.

Stint works hard for balanced feed

Getting 'balanced' diet hard for Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) holding injured leg close to body ... 

... good thing wings still work.

Nearby, Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) takes one-leg rest.

And Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) tucks in. 

Elsewhere, Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), unlike Stint, enjoys stretch of beach.

Metallic Starlings sterling condo builders

Construction by a labour force of about 200 Metallic Starling (Aplornis metallica) continues apace in their chosen two rain trees at the  western  end of Ingham's main shopping thoroughfare.

A spokesbird for the condo co-operative said work was on schedule and all performance targets were being met. 

'The team is doing starling, sorry, sterling work, as usual.' 

Mungalla mob masses amid mud

Massed Egrets and Spoonbills crowd Mungalla Station wetlands for final feeding flurries before the shallows become fast-drying mud, probably  within a fortnight as the dry season intensifies.

Some migratory visitors are more than happy to see more mud. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) numbers lower than in past seasons but starting to rise.

Also showing up to spend time on the mud, Red-capped Plover. Nonbreeding plumage gives only hints of the birds' breeding colours. 

From an earlier, rather colourless day, pair of White-browed Crake (Amaurornis cinerea) poke about among blue waterlilies.