Darter stabs and nabs vacant title - Jabberoo!

Australasian Darter comes up from Freshwater pool in Townsville Town Common Park this week with Tilapia securely impaled. Taking no chances, bird took fish out of water (and out of my sight) to swallow the catch. Since Black-necked Storks are no longer Jabirus the name, or something like it, seems a good fit.

Same morning and not far away, Australian Pelican makes a diving splash and grab. Another Tilapia down the hatch. First time I've seen a Pelican make such a nonstop move and perhaps creating a risk of the bird somersaulting over a bill full of water. That would be a picture to treasure!

Bank on power performance from Sea-Eagles

Been able to bank on power performances from White-bellied Sea-Eagles at the Melaleuca viewing area in the Town Common, Townsville, lately. Mostly at distance, as above.

Full power only becomes apparent with images from closer to bird thrusting away from paperback perch on a recent evening.

Another big bird in the air, but Australian Pelican is all grace.

Pied Stilts display fluke example of formation flying within full frame image. No cropping.

I've got my eye on you ...

Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni) does a spot of morning grazing at Mungalla Station.

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) casts an eye over the course ahead on the main lagoon at Tyto Wetlands.

Yellow Oriole (Oriolus flavocinctus) looks a little worse for neck wear but filled the Mungalla morning air with hearty 'chonk-chonk-a-lonk'.

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) stands out in the Tyto shallows.

Macleay's Honeyeater (Xanthotis macleayanus) pauses during brushing up on bottler breakfast at Wallaman Falls yesterday.

And Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarba melanoleucos) sees nothing to get excited about  at Tyto.

Quite a conk and quite a honk

They don't come much larger and louder than Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae), here high in a Mungalla Station paperbark and taking a break from feeding on figs.

No figs for this big-billed fisher, Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), taking off from small pool at Tyto Wetlands and dwarfing Whiskered Terns.

Bits of a big backlog

One of White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) pair resident in area but averse to closeups.

Unlike Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), till recently at home in Tyto.

Or Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), also in Tyto, but facing end to creek pickings as pools dry up. 

Or Australasian Darter (Anhinga novehollandiae), at ease near Tyto hide.

Pelicans take up island residence

After declaring recent Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) an uncommon visitor two have taken over small tree-island close to the Tyto main lagoon lookout.

Bad news for the fish, good views for birdos.  
Click pix to enlarge

Conspicuous and ravenous

Conspicuous in Tyto yesterday, ravenous Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus). 

Uncommon visitor spent an hour scooping up and wolfing down fish before leaving majestically for elsewhere. Could be the only Pelican of the year on the main lagoon. 
Click pix to enlarge