Brown Goshawk launches to latch onto early lunch

Brown Goshawk launches from open perch on way to grabbing unidentified insect from patch of leucaena in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park this morning.

Luck with me because bird dropped onto low perch to start ripping into prey.

Feeding continued on higher branch of nearby tree after bird decided I'd got too close.

Earlier, bit of uncommon colour on roughly cleared foredune with eight Galahs feeding on fallen terminalia nuts. First sighting for me of species at the park.  

 

Brown Goshawk drops in for brekkie banter

Gidday. Just flying up this track and thought I'd drop in and have a dekko for bit of brekkie. Scared? Why'd I be scared of you, standing over there like a daggy, baggy old scarecrow?

Yes, of course I'm a Brown Goshawk. See my glowering brow? See my rounded tail? See my strong legs? Yeah, I know about that stroppy young Collared Sparrowhawk. Little upstart causing confusion. He'd just better stay out of my way, that's all I'll say.

Hey, there's something moving up the track a bit. Looks right up my alley. See you later . . . 

Rare, up-close meeting with Brown Goshawk in Town Common Conservation Park, Townsville, Saturday morning.

Brown Goshawk springs from the shadows

Taken more than three years to capture Brown Goshawk up close in Townsville, but action in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park yesterday made up for that. First spied bird on ground in dark shadows. Flew to acacia, in dark shadow. Vanished into, yep, more shadow. Follow. Nothing. Circle back. More nothing. Movement ahead. Suddenly, bird on open branch in bright light! Better yet, flying toward me ...

To another open branch, close above. Great. But ... always a but. There's something clinging to the bird's mandibles. Good luck scoring bird; bad luck finding messy eater.

Unlike Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. At times messy mischief-makers, they show more delicacy when intent on feeding. Bird above one of 38 chomping on weeds and seeds sprung up beside the Ross River since the banks were flooded and heavily silted last year.

Chance to stand among them and grab a few flight shots.

Not at all interested in daytime flights, Tawny Frogmouth family, just downriver in the Bush Gardens.  All four bit more restless than usual.

Unlike solitary member of species in Cape Pallarenda. Hiding in full view. The birds have notch in eyelid that allows them to look out without seeming able to.

Uncommon sightings give way to drier days

Rare week or two with several uncommon sightings showed signs today of settling back to drier days ahead. Pectoral Sandpiper casting reflection in Payet pool yesterday became no-show for first time since last Sunday.

Quartet (possibly quintet) of Eastern Yellow Wagtails down to two yesterday and again today at Melaleuca viewing area. Blotchy bird above was in company with even lighter immature.

Not so many Australian Pipits confusing the wagtail seekers either.

But resident Willie Wagtails (fantails, not true wagtails) hold their places. Juvenile bird pictured today.

Gone though, Pacific Golden Plover, thought to be juvenile bird with worn and thus gold-free plumage.

But sighting of the week came with Brown Goshawk swooping on to broken pandanus with frog clutched in talons. Clutched insecurely as it turned out. Goshawk looked down split second after landing and frog somehow leapt free. Thirty seconds of action at exactly the time I arrived at Jacana hide for lucky frames. 

Whereas hundreds of failed splash-action frames preceded indifferent shot of sopping Yellow Honeyeater on branch at Payets.

And talking of Payets, words of praise for Queensland Parks and Wildlife. Selective chainsaw work has restored great viewing from the tower. Not needed so much in the Dry, as now, but essential for the coming Wet. Well done, rangers!

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.

 

Grey Goshawk brightens up the mornings

Been a bit grey at times this week but that's a good thing when it's a Grey Goshawk in the trees. Taken me more than six months to catch up with and capture an acceptable image of the species in the Town Common. Thanks owed to Spangled Drongos for flushing bird three mornings in a row.

Technical bit may be of interest. Top image: 600mm lens; above: 600+1.4x=840mm. Locked tight on sturdy tripod. Cropped to more or less same size bird. As usual (in my experience, especially at long distance, as here) prime lens alone outdoes same lens plus converter. The pros mostly disagree - and produce better results. You pays your money ...

It's not been all grey. Caught juvenile Brown Goshawk at start of soar into the blue. Almost certainly same bird shown in post last week. Also hounding and hunting other birds lately have been mature goshawks, at least one Collared Sparrowhawk, and a young Australian Hobby. Raptor-ish days!

Brown Goshawk courtesy of spangles and angles

Young Brown Goshawk teasing me for couple of weeks launched into view this morning under challenge from territorial Spangled Drongos (chasers lost all interest immediately goshawk flew into tree over road: seems it was then about 10 metres outside their zone).

Near vertical view: an awkward strain handholding lens at this angle.

Managed to back away and support lens against side of tree for better shot.

Also in same area of the Townsville Common at the time, young Australian Hobby. Bit of a morning for raptors. Five other species seen within 500m but not photographed: White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pacific Baza, Brahminy Kite, Black Kite, Whistling Kite.

Adorning our Structures

Drizzle dribbles off the caravan, grey gloom continues, laptop chores sort of done ... time to cook up stew of leftovers, but with grandiose theme: Adorning our Structures

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus): Broadwater Forest Park rail

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii): Tyto Wetlands elevated walkway

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis): Orient Station fence

Striated Heron (Butorides striata): Dungeness rail

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii): Dungeness rail

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus): Orient Station fence
Click pix to enlarge