Black-throated Finches feel right at home among weeds?

Black-throated Finches no-shows today along the natural beauty of Sachs Creek in Oak Valley southwest of Townsville but showed up fully at home amid rampant weeds and many seeding grasses between nearby old and new highways.

Here's the irony: disappearance of some finch species inland has been put down to, among other things, war won against Rubber Vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) and Chinee Apple (Ziziphus mauritiana). What's running riot near Townsville, specially through the Ross River Dam catchment? Yep, the terrible twosome. But they offer small birds great protection.

Back in Oak Valley, Blue-winged Kookaburra  pauses between minor scuffles with others of same species.

Pale-headed Rosella too gentle to scuffle. One of seven seen this morning.

And Brown Falcon stretches wings before drifting off over the tree tops to a more secure vantage spot.

Welcome to the world of almosts

Close. Almost. Not quite right. One of those mornings in the Common today. Started with Brown Goshawk. Flew from ground and stayed in shadow and behind twig. Big adjustment made to lighten image.

Rainbow Bee-eater stuck  tight to branch and flew off before I could adjust camera angle inside Troopy to get full tail in shot.

Suicidal Black-fronted Dotterel walked along road even as traffic passed within two metres. But just would not look my way. And flew off teasingly whenever I tried to walk up on it.

Nothing new in grasses and branches getting in the way of course. Thus, Brolga the other day.

And Crimson Finch.

And Pheasant Coucal.

And Blue-winged Kookaburra.

Too difficult to fix many untidy images, but clone tool and tight cropping can work wonders. Others must be cast aside and prayers offered for better luck next time.

 

Flying start after being grounded by flu

Back on the road after the past 10 days 'flu' by. Just in time this morn to see perched Blue-winged Kookaburra fly down to road through the Town Common. Seems would-be prey got away.

White-bellied Sea Eagle would have larger prey in mind from vantage point overlooking flooded grassland. Bird's view not quite so clear as shown: bit of cloning removed messy foliage.

Forest Kingfisher also looks neater after major pruning by cloning away bits of dead tree. Pity one can't clone flu from the scene. And, yes, had my jab.

Kookaburra, Crimson Finch looking sharp

Two looks at female Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) spotted untypically on the ground at Tyto yesterday without any prey in sight. A few seconds later and bird was back in nearby trees ready to pounce. 

No pouncing involved with Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) on pandanus in Tyto. Two views again, this time to demonstrate the sharpness available through the image stabilisation of the Canon 600mm even when being hand-held by an offbalance photographer.

Ditto with this very uncommon visitor to Tyto, Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) on dead lotus head in the main lagoon. Far from perfect but much better than I could ever hope for from 400mm nonIS lens.

Peregrine Falcon rips into highway prey

Go to a big city where Rock Pigeons flock and you may find Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) nesting on skyscraper ledges but morning encounter near Ingham falls into category of rare sightings.

Bird was ripping into Masked Lapwing beside the highway hard by local airstrip. No way of knowing if the dead bird was a direct kill or road victim. Note blood and feathers on talons.

Same morning and another rarity: first local sighting by me of Black-chinned Honeyeater (Melithreptus gularis). Trying now to see whether the species has just popped in for fleeting visit or might be spreading along the coast.

Elsewhere, female Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) comes up with fish and insects from Mungalla Station pool and surrounds.

And female Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) does a bit of scowling at Orient Station. 

Wish I could up and fly

Flying's not just about getting from there to here: Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) cruising in to a wetlands. 

It can be aerial spotting for breakfast: Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) hovers over pasture.

A means of collecting webbing for nest-building: Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) engages in one-sided tug-o'-war.

Or just a way to find a place to be warm and look good: Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii). 

Wish I could up and fly.