Eye to eye with Bush Stone-curlew

Eye to eye with Bush Stone-curlew in Townsville Town Common today. Intrusion over, bird speedily back on top of two eggs on ground nearby.

Ospreys rise above Parks and Wildlife burnout

Look who's back on top of life after having nest and host tree burned down by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service: Osprey pair rebuilding lives and nest in nearby tree in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park. She's toey, but staying close to new nest. He was eating fish on tree across road this morning. Last year's sole youngster may have departed. 

Meanwhile, new life down the road. Bush Stone-curlews with two eggs plonked in plain view close to entry gate. In turn, I've plonked bit of cover around them. Didn't expect thanks and, naturally, got none. 

Dusky Moorhen stands out after owl's no-show

Dusky Moorhen pauses while attending to morning toilette in Townsville Palmetum. Not my target bird, but couldn't find Rufous Owl reportedly returned to former roosting spot near front gate.

Another consolation prize after mystery shorebird vanished, Black Kite gets glowing makeover from rising sun on sands beside the Ross River.

Struck gold with Golden-headed Cisticola against golden background (distant dry grasses) in the Town Common.

Crested Pigeon sits in tiny patch of green grass (from leaking pipe) amidst otherwise bone-dry blocks along beside the Ross River Dam.

Apology: Bit of a limp blog. Dropped soap on foot last week. Haematoma: big bleed under skin. RICE: rest, ice, compression, exercise. Exercise too soon. Extend rest, compression. Blog on. 

Parks and Wildlife Service burn destroys Osprey nest

Remember this?

And this?

Or this?

Now the scene is this.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife burned east of road in Town Common Conservation Park yesterday. Nest - with, possibly, hatchling/s - gone. Tree mostly gone. Only one of the three resident Ospreys close by today. Probably last year's youngster, late and yet to go off on its own, nervily calling and being harassed by Black Kites looking for after-burn pickings.

Further up the road, juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle fared better. Base of nest tree charred and ground around it covered in ash but youngster alert and confident today. Parents not sighted: almost certainly out hunting, maybe to add to the 16 turtle shells at base of tree.

Jacana puts best foot forward on the river

Few birds better at putting a best foot forward than Comb-crested Jacana. And few look better than this one in morning sunshine at Ross River Bush Garden, Townsville.

Just up the river, Australasian Darter soaks up the sun.

Close by, Little Bronze-cuckoo pauses in its hunt for hairy caterpillars.

And an Australian Reed-warbler makes a rare appearance outside its bulrush habitat.