Friday, March 19, 2010

Shining Flycatcher nest in wrong light?

Female Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) gets down to adding material to nest in triple fork of bare sapling today. First nest-building by the infrequent visitors in my more than six years in Tyto.

The site amid open pandanus and cheesewood trees, and right alongside main service track into the wetlands, is a surprising choice, even though over a temporary pond. The birds, specially males, love deep shadows along creeks and other treed waterways.

Got quick picture and left after male flew in and took off without going close to nest. Rare to even see a male in Tyto. I'd predict birds won't go on with the project - if I'd a better track record.

And talking of track records, here's an immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster: 2-3 years) caught cruising briefly overhead the other day. My record of tracking high birds and getting super sharp pix is not great. And unimproved!

Anyway, eagle wasting its time really, given the near total lack of prey on or near the main lagoon. Frustrating for both of us since bird didn't hang about and allow time for (possibly) sharper shots.

3 comments:

Denis Wilson said...

Great to see the Sning Flycatchers trying to nest, even if it is a little late, by our calendars.

Nice Juvenile Sea Eagle, Tony.
Because they are so large, we tend to underestimate their speed, and hence the limited amount of time available to the photographer.
Nice work, in my book.
Cheers
Denis

Gouldiae said...

G'day Tony,
Beaut to see the Flycatcher on the nest. Hope it succeeds. (Thinking of you as I watch the weather patterns up there).
Gouldiae.

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Denis: Eagle can certainly fill the lens and make tracking hard.

Gidday Gouldiae: Shinings persisting today. Ului no wurri for usi.

Head up for dragonfly, head off for fish head . . .

One moment it's dragonfly trying to dance on White-bellied Sea-Eagle's head, the next it's all go for fisher's discarded fis...