More Crakes out and about

More White-browed Crakes (Amaurornis cinerea) foraging at edge of scleria on floating weed as evaporation sucks water from main lagoon.

Shadowy reflection today at Tyto.

Closer look at same bird.

Even closer in late morning recently.   
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Dusky beauty heads honeyeater handful

Dusky Honeyeater (Myzomela obscura) in Tyto Wetlands yesterday (losing out to Brown and Yellow HEs in fight for nearby flowering bottlebrush.

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) on the bottlebrush.

Yellow Honeyeater ready for action (Lichenostomus flavus)

Earlier, White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis) also on bottlebrush.

And White-gaped Honeyeater (Lichenostomus unicolor) not so sweet-loving as it collects Cheese Tree seeds. 
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Brolgas kick up their heels

Brolgas (Grus rubicunda) love to kick up their heels.

Caught this pair making bit of a splash near Ingham the other day.

Pity, best action came in solo show.

Back together at the end. 
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This here's a Cisticola

This here's a Cisticola - (Cisticola exilis)
Golden-headed in particular.
(In General rhymes to Agricola)
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Catching up in black and white

Cyclone Yasi didn't blow White-browed Robins (Poecilodryas superciliosa) away from Tyto but did change their behaviour. They now spend more time higher in trees because of stripped and sunnier undergrowth. Today's distant sighting sets black-and-white theme.

Black Butcherbird (Cracticus quoyi) caught out away from shadows at Macknade (near one of my crocodile sites).  

Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) sparkles on pandanus stump in Tyto.

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarba melanoleucos) in morning sunshine by roadside pool near Toobanna.
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All aboard the threesome express

Quick-change threesome for these Peaceful Doves (Geopelia striata) in Tyto today. Two taking turns on top. Bonus: lovely cocoa underwing colouring.

Three birds but no threesome as female Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) shakes her booty in front of two neighbouring Magpie Geese.

And three looks at Cuckoos: two Brush, one Little Bronze.
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Ratty's wind(-up) in the wallows

Came upon Water Rat snuffling and wallowing in some shady shallows yesterday.

Seems usually high-alert sensors were turned off.

Mr Rat left water and came sniffing to me before sensing danger and scarpering back into overgrowth. No messing about in boats in this neck of the woods!
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Blurred bird pans honeyeater hopes

Bit of blurry nest-building action from Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) near main lagoon in Tyto. Tried to pan with bird but ageing reflexes not up to task.

Here's a less action-packed view from today.

Thinking of nesting and calling (without success) for females, are two recently-arrived White-winged Triller (Lalage sueurii) males.

More interested in food than breeding, two Little Shrike-Thrushes (Colluricincla megarhyncha).
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More reflecting on Latham's Snipe

Overcast mornings no help in trying for 'the' shot of Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii).

But got a reflection.

And a reflective look.   
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Keeping an eye out for cuckoos

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus), one of several active and noisy in Tyto today.

Caught this bird with snack just before it was driven off by honeyeaters (cuckoos have few friends!).

But Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) has lately been more concerned with breeding than fending off parasitic cuckoos.

And Macleay's Honeyeater (Xanthotis macleayanus) intent  the other day only on gathering nectar.

However, Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) today carrying nest material should be wary. Cuckoos rather keen on popping their eggs into wren nests.   
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