Grabbing, tearing, probing - unmoving

Three ways of catching some protein and wee portions of other nutrients, seen in the Townsville Town Common lately. Nankeen Kestrel flew from low perch, grabbed grasshopper or locust on the ground and carried it into the sky to feed on the wing (on not off, because insect wings are often discarded).

Australian Raven has torn spider nest from Corymbia tessellaris and followed or carried it down to roadside. The birds use road because spiders inside are easier to find on or hiding under road metal. I believe Torresian Crows, supplanted by the ravens in recent years, don't share the passion for such fare.

Spangled Drongo tears into gumtree bark that has split apart after last year's hot fires through the park. Lost track as it flew off but probably a caterpillar went with it and would not have lasted long.

Meantime Brahminy Kite disdained any such grabbing, tearing and probing, unmoving above the Silver Gulls grabbing slivers of discarded bait as beach fisher at Pallarenda refreshed his hooks. Though the kite is much more a scavanger than, say, the Osprey.

Will burnoff, warning sign brown off croc in the Common

Saltwater Crocodile making itself at home on the freshwater side of the earth and gravel bund for walkers and cyclists in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park has sparked permanent warning sign 6km away just inside the entry gate.

Possibly slight overreaction for an animal estimated at a bit under two metres but there is some suspicion of a larger saltie in the same general 300-400m stretch - the deepest water on the north side of the bund.

Neither was likely to have been visible from midmorning today because a pre-saltie-planned burnoff of grasses on bother sides of the bund brought crackling red flames, billowing smoke and hungry kites. No threat to the croc's favoured sunning spots, half in flooded para grass and mud on norther side of the long curving pool. Even the threat of being caught unawares has greatly reduced through the burnoff of much cover on the bund. But we'll take a sneaky look tomorrow - see if the croc's browned off.  

Fruit, seeds, nuts and mystery bag for breakfast

Long ago, as with many smokers, I'd wheeze, 'Breakfast's for the birds', gulp my coffee and head out to get my teeth into work. Toast and no nicotine or caffeine these days, then out and into the healthier by far world of birds. So, what are they eating these days? Above, Great Bowerbird with ripe Dodder Vine fruit.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin using woody weed to reach and fill up with tiny seeds from Natal Grass.

Trio of Double-barred Finches during long stint moving slowly from patch to patch of (I think) Paspalum species.

Chunkier stuff for Red-tailed Black Cockatoo with resounding crunches as powerful bill cracks Eucalyptus nuts. 

Mystery bag for Rufous Shrikethrush, an insectivore, so something smaller loses out.