Saturday, February 25, 2023

Sacre bleu! Blind shots not Sacred blur





Sacred Kingfishers showing out in seasonal return to Town Common Conservation Park these days. Pair active bathing around Payets Tower this morning triggered some forget-the-viewfinder point, shoot and hope. And, wonder of wonders, a half decent result. 


Later in the morning, Australian Hobby returned to snatching dragonflies from near surface of Melaleuca viewing area lagoon. It also repeated previously seen hostility toward passing immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle, driving it away from the area. No such aggression toward mature bird perched nearby. 


Thursday, February 16, 2023

Uncommon visitors at front door, park


Didn't need to travel far for pictures of relatively uncommon visitors to Rowes Bay. Three Pied Butcherbirds turned up just a few metres from my retirement village studio front door the other day.

Quick grab for camera and managed to get pictures of young adult on grass and juvenile on wood chips. One or other of the birds has been serenading locals with ringing musical notes for months after first being seen nearby about six months ago. More typical habitat is less populated country not far west of Townsville.


Another less common sighting, female Pacific Emerald-Dove, in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park this week. Only my second in six years haunting the park.



Cormorant shuffles off mortal coil in python's coils

Water Python coiled around Little Black Cormorant beside pool in Townsville Town Common (03/11/24). Snake probably took bird in the water an...