Wagtail uncommoners come and gone

Seems the uncommoners have come and gone. Not one Eastern Yellow Wagtail sighted this morn in the Town Common. First miss in 17 days.

Never did get a decent picture of the one yellow bird.

'Blotchy' stuck around longest.

Larger sight on the wagtails' patch of saltwater couch this morn, White-bellied Sea-eagle tearing into long-necked turtle.

Elsewhere, three Brolgas in charge of two fast-drying pools in front of Freshwater hide. Male above.

Along the dam wall, nine Brown Quail, two of which, female (left) and male stayed on track long enough for distant shot.

Finally, not at all uncommon but rarely in the open by day, waterlogged water rat at water's edge beside dam wall.

Stumbling upon a Grass Owl ...

More night driving turned up this Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto longimembris) west of Ingham early this morning. Had to stumble down and up other side of flooded sugar cane railway cutting to get just the one passable image. 

Been a similar story elsewhere lately. My friendly Saltwater Crocodile refuses to pose on her billabong bank for more than a minute or two.

Noisy Pitta at Jourama Falls offers teasing distant moment before flying from sight.

And the quail insist on doing runners whenever I draw near. Stubble Quail above head off at Mungalla Station.

Brown Quail sprints across Mungalla entry road after deciding the grass didn't provide enough cover.

Black Bittern quits flooded Tyto creek and takes to the trees.

Black-tailed Native Hen pauses while darting around old Mungalla stockyards.

Never mind the quality, feel the quantity!