Some quail being alone, others don't flinch

Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) upset at losing contact after covey of three flushed at Orient Station this week walked and ran 100 metres back up track to cattle grid where the birds had been feeding, all the time sending out low calls. It then turned and ran back the way it came. Not a bird happy finding itself alone.

Unlike this Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) feeding roadside and surprisingly alone. Bird continued to feed as I drove near. We then played wee game of hide and seek around and under the Troopy. Zeb numbers have been lower than past years along the Orient road, in spite of dry conditions expected to favour their presence.

Meanwhile, much nesting going on in Tyto Wetlands. Yellow Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus) just one of many birds and species building apace without worrying about the missing Wet. Perhaps they're even enjoying a time of patchy light and less often heavy showers and much sunshine.

Easy as falling off a log - or on one

Some days bird photography comes easy as falling off a log - or falling into focus on one. So, Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora).

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii)

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus)

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis)

Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

All at Mungalla Station last few weeks.

Zitting pretty and Shining bright

Before later bogging the Toyota in a metre of mud, chased this Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) at Orient Station on foot last weekend. Picture's for Paul, who's chasing the species as a possible cyclone threatens to disrupt birdwatching around Ingham today or tomorrow. And a big thanks to Craig and Cate for pulling me out of the poo - again!!!

No such embarrassments yesterday as I walked by the bogging site to check on Mangrove Robins. Found four skirmishing over territory, so all well there. Better luck photographing male Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto).

It's also one of few birds seemingly fooled by my terrible efforts at mimicry.

And here's a Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora), on the road a while back, and in almost the same place again yesterday. Wonders of the Orient...

Mangrove Robin reveals nest site

Bit of luck at the end of Orient Station road today with Mangrove Robin (Peneonanthe pulverulenta) giving away nest site.

Bird sits neatly in cup, which sits neatly in thick fork of dying mangrove.

Here's a closer look at one of the nesting pair, taken previously.

Elsewhere along the station road recently, pair of Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) venture briefly from cover.

And an Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) does a little morning preening and flapping.

Male quail sticks to trail

They usually ... um ... er ... quail when seeing me coming but this male Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) in Tyto today quietly went about his business for quite a while before quitting the track.  

Click pix to enlarge