Monday, October 25, 2010

Little Bitter among minor miracles

Much made for and against in Australia lately about two miracles needed to create this nation's first saint, but among unsaintly types minor miracles roll out without nearly so much fuss. Thus, sighting today and yesterday of Tyto's rarity, Australian Little Bittern (Ixobrychus dubius). Each time bird flew from flooded lagoon edge, across 40m open water and dropped down into scleria. One flight and sighting is a blessing, two in two days nothing less than birdwatching miracle. Three in a row too much to contemplate!


And another good news tale. White-browed Robins (Poecilodryas superciliosa) yesterday frantic to protect grounded fledgling from opportunist green ants. Parents kept picking at the biting menace. Junior fluttered around feebly. Finally scrambled off the ground. Today, no sight or sound of family so presumably all's well. Just a very minor miracle.            
Click pix to enlarge    

4 comments:

mick said...

That's the kind of miracle I like to hear about!

Denis Wilson said...

"And in my hour of darkness, Mother Mary said to me: "Whispering words of wisdom, - Let it be"
Or something like that, anyway.
Poor little chick looks like it might have been blinded.
Anyway, perhaps best to not know for sure.
At least you got one miracle (maybe two).
Nice picture of the Little Bitter(n). If not so nice of the little Bighters!
Denis

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Mick, Denis: No miracle sightings today. But think I glimpsed White-browed Robin juvenile high in thick foliage.

Mark Young said...

Congrats on the Bittern sighting!

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