Raven leads best of wetland morning

Three birds, three very different stories from Rowes Bay Sustainability Wetlands in Townsville this morning.

First up, Australian Raven, one of two challenging the presence of recently arrived Channel-billed Cuckoos from across Torres Strait (along with Koels and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons).

Second, female Black-necked Stork, making imposing statement atop vines decorating dead acacia.

Third, Forest Kingfisher, the only one of the five seen through the morning posing near perfectly.

Bonus: an even better look at Forest Kingfisher, on nearby branch last week.   

Cockatoo laps up water going to waste

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos can be clever but not-so-clever human left this supposedly self-closing tap slightly open in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park this week. Despite BOM's reluctance to declare El Nino upon us signs are we'll regret wasting water this year and well into 2024. Did I close tap? Yes. Yes. And good to see some in Australia catching on to moves abroad to let grass brown off. Save water. And fuel for mowers. Win-win.    

Leucistic heron lightens up wetland viewing area

No knowing how long leucistic (later edit: or hybrid of some sort; maybe heron/egret) White-faced Heron will hang around Pandanus viewing area in the Town Common Conservation Park after it popped up late last week so here's five looks at the lightly coloured bird (usually darkish grey apart from white face), which has drawn no negative response from other herons and egrets in the large seasonal wetland. 

Do I ever get tired of taking Little Kingfisher pictures? No. No. No. No. No.

 

And big 'Hi!' to rare faithful follower, Teo. 

Nothing stick-in-the-mud about these birds

Call them slick or quick in the mud, just don't call them stick-in-the-mud. Some of the lively birds looking good as water evaporates in Townsville Common Conservation Park lately:

Comb-crested Jacana slurps up a gelatinous treat (a favourite with young Magpie Geese also).

Magpie-Lark splits time between bathing and breakfasting.

White-browed Crake ventures out from safety of bulrushes in search of grub.

Buff-banded Rail forages below tower hide (ignoring crowd of chatty birders above it).

  

Blue-faced really enjoys juicy greens

Blue-faced Honeyeater doesn't need telling twice to eat its greens. Insect in the Town Common, on the other hand,  guilty of an existential blue in being seen by a hungry bird. Mantid or katydid? Bird didn't care. I'm not sure.

Eight standouts for July in the Common

Eight birds stand out from the rest caught by the camera in July: Brown Falcon, Spangled Drongo, Dusky Moorhen, Golden-headed Cisticola, Grey Fantail, Magpie Goose, Nankeen Kestrel, Willie Wagtail. Here's hoping for even better in August - and an end to rain so we get more migratory species dropping in later in the year.