Sunday, March 13, 2011

Squelching the numbers . . .

Squelched into Tyto today after 740mm of rain and widespread flooding through the week finally gave way to mostly dry roads and sullen grey cloud. Tracks overgrown and some knee-deep in water.  


Found 26 bird species. Few in usual numbers, apart from White-browed Crakes and Forest Kingfishers. Even Crimson Finches and Willie Wagtails notably reduced. 


But did surprise a Black Bittern in spot flushed from soon after Cyclone Yasi crashed through last month. A creature of habit, possibly partner of bird above, pictured in January.


And while looking back, two views of a Sooty Oystercatcher from my flying visit to NZ.


Painful crawl over volcanic rock on Manukau Harbour foreshore brought little reward!  
Click pix to enlarge

3 comments:

Gouldiae said...

... and while looking back .. Luv it.

G'day Tony,
Just been catching up on my reading. Welcome back.
That bus trip was a horror movie script wasn't it?
Some inland pressure troughs have been sucking some of your tropical moisture down south here a bit this season. Been wonderful. Not your quantities of mm's thankfully, but it has been a different start.
Regards,
Gouldiae.

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Gouldiae: 'Hell on Wheels' would be good B-grade title. (My daughter works in NZ film biz and is trying to develop feature film script: don't think my experience would make the grade, B or otherwise).

Good to see rainfall being shared around. But it does seem worst of the deep-set systems up this way may be easing off.

Tyto Tony said...

Too kind Kah Wai.

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...