Who needs fireworks when nature's such a blast?

Nine o'clock and pre-midnight fireworks for families boom in the background. What can compete?

Too far from poles to dream of auroras, no lightning storms expected. Never fear, nature's here. Day or two early, but fireworks prep began months ago. So, here's Double Happy at the common.

And there's the pot of gold spot at right of picture. I've plenty so have left it all in place for others.

So, 2018. Sometimes it crawled along but suddenly it's ending with dash and splash, just as turtle poised on Ross River stump's about to do. Turtles beside the bank, banks' good names turned horribly turtle!

Lesson from the Common yesterday: big and powerful needs to watch it. Sneaky Black Kite spooks mighty White-bellied Sea-eagle. Panicky plunge from power perch. Mighty eagles? Hmm, a few nations to choose from. Course, Australia fears only All Black Kiwis!

And wouldn't it be wonderful if our leaders' motives carried at least some semblance of the transparency offered by Nankeen Kestrel.

Or the resolution and steadiness of purpose into buffeting headwinds of White-breasted Woodswallow at Cape Pallarenda today.

Meantime, I'll stick to my Hobby even if it means feathers (birds') must fly and bit of blood (often mine) must be shed.

Finally, seeing New Year in, junior Brush Turkey. The only youngster I've seen in two years' birding at Cape Pallarenda, BT paradise. An omen of sorts? Who knows. Here's to 2019 anyway.

Santa works magic on glimpse of Paradise present

Isn't Santa just Christmas? Asked North Pole person (PC post!) to magic iffy shot of Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Ho Ho Ho job's done.

Seems it's once a year deal only. So I've asked for stocking full of post-processing tips. And a flasher monitor. And digiscoping. And ... Too greedy? Well, aren't we all, this time of year?

Always up for gifts of grace from Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. Female incoming above at Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park yesterday.

And another outgoing after feeding on Xmas mix of tree nuts and fallen seeds.

Earlier present from almost same location in the park, Yellow-throated Miner, beside itself after being told no other member of species seen or listed previously at the site.

Get a close up of my throat, it said. See. See why I'm a Yellow-throated.

And how about a side view? (Bit of a bighead, this bird).

Not, however, so big as Tawny Frogmouth, present at Ross River Bush Garden. One of three shifting from night to night to keep everyone guessing next morning.

Also present nearby, Striated Heron poised on lily pad.

Finally, return to Pallarenda for lovely Lovely Fairy-wren. Female needs some of the Santa magic to perfect the picture.

But  she'll have to do, for the present.

Young Friarbird chooses to get a hand-up

Hard to thumb a lift if you've no fingers, but no youngster should be left standing in the middle of the road through Townsville Common.

Surprise this afternoon though when very young Helmeted Friarbird chose to leap aboard for hand-up.

No thanks from parents, but they did stop swooping after safe place found for junior.

Kookaburra's insect fillers fill in for kingfisher

Target Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher refused to quit treetops in Townsville Bush Gardens today but obliging male Blue-winged Kookaburra's pounced several times on insects in leaf litter between pauses in our long one-sided chat.

Hard to see the prey among the litter. Close look reveals spiky leg poking up side of upper mandible.

This insect appeared the preferred meal. The many small skinks among the litter consistently ignored.

Nearby, three Tawny Frogmouths in position to look down on unknowing walkers.

And White-browed Robin - after much noisy early calling - deigned to descend from the kingfisher's heights.

Common cicada goes by many names

Look out for Masked Devils! Noisy devils, they are. Never heard of them?

How about Yellow Mondays? Green Grocers? Blue Princes? Chocolate Soldiers?
Cyclophila australasiae, every last variously coloured and patterned one of them.  Tricky things, common names. Wet Sundays? No, not cicadas, just the tail end of TC Owen clockwising through Townsville.

Snarky snake not so terribly tearful

Never seen a snake cry? Small Keelback (Freshwater Snake) appears to offer a tear upon seeing me today.

But the dewdrop was deceptive. Snake mostly interested in tearing into me for stalking it.

'Get away and chase some birds,' it hissed on parting. Snarky, some snakes!