Crimsons charting course to the top

Bad news for all those fed up with endless images of Crimson Finches from Tyto. You're in danger of finch flood from Townsville Common.

But it's not my fault. Deep research (10 minutes on ebird) this morning reveals the Crimsons are taking over. From none (yes, none) listed in 2009, Crimsons now rank more or less equal with Double-barreds in sighting frequency and numbers. Left trailing, Chestnut-Breasted Mannikin and Scaly-breasted Munia (Nutmeg Mannikin), which just five years ago ruled with Double-barreds.

What's more (or maybe less, who knows?), Crimsons like water, and Townsville's been particularly dry for 5-6 years.

But so as not to be accused of speciesism, here's the other finch frontrunner.

Can DBs keep up with competition? I suspect they're slightly less adaptable. So, my money's on the Crimsons if the conditions that have brought about the dramatic change in their numbers, whatever they may be, continue. They'll outbreed the others.

Welcome Swallows busy moving mud

Lot of mud on the move from Tyto drain to nearby Welcome Swallow building project this morning.

Not so keen on mud, Plumed Whistling Ducks stand at one of their regular daytime spots close to drain.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin drops in to seek seeds.

Tidying up with four from Tyto

Bird numbers down everywhere so time to tidy up the Tyto holdovers, starting with Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis), on guinea grass stalk – since whipper-snipped - near the lookout.

Rarer sight, White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone albogularis) sitting still in a paperbark near hide.

More common, Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis), also in paperbark near hide.

To finish off, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) pauses during feeding.

Click pix to enlarge  

Crimsons counter cyclone blues

Super wet Xmas morn at edge of Cyclone Tasha, so festive cheer needs a boost.

How about two cheers for Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton)?

And another for Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax)?


Greetings to nature lovers everywhere.
Click pix to enlarge

Stork sticks to stalking shallows

Reports of Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) lately carrying branches a bit south of Tyto led yesterday to Cattle Creek and female stalking the shallows.

No sign of partner. Nor hints of stick gathering, though March-June likely breeding period.

Detoured back through cattle country to seek resident Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) pair on the wing. Light morph bird stayed glued to upper branches till my attention drifted. Then, it was gone.

Sought movement from this Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) in harsh sunshine on edge of deep bush shadows in Tyto earlier in the week.

Instead, scored dramatic contrasts between bird in harsh sunshine and deep shadows behind it. Some accidents are happy!

Comedy with not so old Chestnut

Colours bit muted for a clown, but this Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) could be auditioning for best comic dance in the Tyto Follies.

Same bird, a split-second earlier. Timing's all in comedy.

No laughs from this Carpet Python the other day. Though some seem to grin when open mouthed, snakes offer little humour.

Many honeyeaters today and yesterday found large Amethystine Python in pandanus no joke. It proved camera shy, so snake-cringers can relax.

Meanwhile, Shining Flycatcher juveniles doing well with parent female (above) doing almost all the feeding.

Tree gloom, green bloom, fig boom

Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) starts dive from tree gloom to fish doom. Three days sunshine marked Ingham's annual Italian festival, but the Azure stuck to the shadows. (Click any pic to enlarge).

Snuck closer through the trees.

Bird just wouldn't pose right for the light.

Did better with Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) feeding on blooming green water weed.

Crawled to within five metres along track close to temporary pool.

Today, grey skies and spotty drizzle. Above Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vielloti), one of many suddenly keen on figs from tree shading the Tyto lookout. Usually tasteless and dry, figs were indeed juicier today.

Updates: Shining Flycatchers still feeding two chicks. Jacana families all OK.

Right little upright mannikin

Standing up for oneself widely admired, but not so desirable for bird picture - as evidenced by this Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) in Tyto today. An upright avian citizen indeed. More generally, immature flocks of mannikins are starting to gather. Soon there'll be groups of 40-50 young birds foraging amid the seeding grasses.

In past years Rainbow Bee-eaters (Merops ornatus) also have gathered in large flocks. But not in the wetlands recently. Have almost given up hope of decent aerial shots.

Even more limited exercise of capturing birds with intact tail-shafts showing clearly has proved trickier than expected. Who said practice makes perfect?

Shining Flycatchers persisting with nest today. Noticed male's only role is to chase Wille Wagtails away. Appears to do nothing toward building.

Three to look back on from sunnier days

Plenty of rain and grey skies lately. Time for sunnier pictures (enlargeable) that won some praise  elsewhere late last year. First up, Little Kingfisher (Ceyx pusilla) on scleria at front of Tyto hide. Member of species dived into flooded shallows at hide yesterday. No chance for worthwhile picture.

Also on scleria in front of hide, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax). Plenty of the species - many immatures - still in the wetlands. Very hard to get close to across flooded grasses.

Last, Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) enjoying morning sunshine amid the scleria. Another prominent grass inhabitant harder to approach since the Wet set in.

Footnote: Rain comes. Lagoons flood. Birds go. Almost no egrets, herons, ducks, darters cormorants to be seen. Crakes, rails, bitterns, bush-hens hidden in flooded grasses. But still 50 or so species to be found - with effort, and much mozzie mashing!

Mannikins head memorable morning

Some days start well and just keep getting better. Hard to top today's start of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins (Lonchura castaneothorax) sprucing up in one of the new pools near Tyto's entrance. So, two pix for them.

Onwards, to one of many Brown-backed Honeyeaters (Ramsayornis modestus) busy, busy, busy gathering nesting material. (Yellows, and Browns doing likewise).

Nearby, male Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) sang and danced methodically through the cheesewoods in typical togetherness with mate (which didn't pose for me).

Plaintive noises from amid the mistletoe led to juvenile Red-winged (Aprosmictus erythropterus) whingeing at parent, which seemed immune to pleas, suggesting the youngster knuckle down and find its own fare by following mother's example. Later, similar story with male (below) and another juvenile.

Still better to come. Splash and dash from pool announced presence of Little Kingfisher (Ceyx pusilla). Bit of chasing about led to another pool and bird sitting pretty high off water. (Have helped several birdos find the reclusive Littles lately.)

No trouble finding Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii). But few of them are willing to sit around when people come by. Picture one of several taken with new 2x converter, which means losing Auto Focus and many, many botched shots!)

No need for 2x when White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa) turns up close to the Little Kingfisher pool. Bird jaunted about in the shadows briefly and just as quickly flashed off deeper into the trees.

Last bird of the morn, Rufous-thoated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis) head down and hard at it to gather soft lining for nest in nearby paperbark. (Brown-backed and Rufous specialise in big bulky ovals with verandahed side entrances.)

To round off the outing, a Common Tree Snake sunning as I entered the hide, re-emerged from hiding, tasted the air, decided there was no threat and came from three metres away and almost over my outstretched hand before heading out and up off the bench and into a paperbark.

As I said, the morning just kept getting better!

(Note: used Picasa tools to fast-process all this post. One nit: can't scale images, so some inconsistent sizing.)

Chestnuts love their greens

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) shows signs of breakfast at Tyto today.

The birds love the long green threads of a water plant (unidentified, by me!). It thrives in shallow pools and temporary creeklets after flood waters recede, but does not for several weeks attract the mannikins.

Nor does it draw Crimson Finches, Nutmeg Mannikins or Red-browed Finches, all of which share some similarity of taste with the Chestnuts.

Very different tastes here: Agile Wallaby with Willie Wagtail hanger-on ready to pounce on insects set flying by the browser.