Yellow Wagtails' cool distance creates the blues

Six days of chatting to Siberian visitors and still getting distant treatment and cold shoulder from Yellow Wagtails at Melaleuca viewing area in the Town Common Conservation Park, Townsville.

Perhaps they're from northern Japan and upset by my ignorance of their origin. Or worse, took offence at comments about their - in first two seen - total lack of yellow. Anyway, four birds stayed for more than two weeks last year. Here's hoping for closer sightings in next week or so.

As with Latham's Snipe foraging along edge of Melaleuca pool. Not often seen quite so close.

Bit much to expect sharp shot of Wagtail in flight. Pied Stilt much easier to track through the air.

As also Comb-crested Jacana, till quite recently main resident of the deepest Melaleuca water.

And I'm afraid there's little likelihood of Yellow Wagtail ever posing so perfectly as the Jacana. Pity!

Male Jacanas just carry on parenting capers

Carry four youngsters under your arms? No problem, if you're a male Comb-crested Jacana. Spotted bulky bird on lagoon in Palmetum Botanical Gardens, Townsville, with too many legs, but only two on water plants.

Seconds later four young Jacanas were free to forage with father (females free of parenthood).

Make all four vanish in a flash? No, problem. Male uttered shrill orders and the quartet disappeared into debris beneath him (above) on edge of lagoon. My short, very careful search found not one bird.

But it caused male to flop 'broken' wings and splosh invitingly about - an easy meal for a predator. Soon after, perceived danger passed, male sounded the all clear, picked his 'invisible' four up, and carried them to other side of lagoon.  

Jacana puts best foot forward on the river

Few birds better at putting a best foot forward than Comb-crested Jacana. And few look better than this one in morning sunshine at Ross River Bush Garden, Townsville.

Just up the river, Australasian Darter soaks up the sun.

Close by, Little Bronze-cuckoo pauses in its hunt for hairy caterpillars.

And an Australian Reed-warbler makes a rare appearance outside its bulrush habitat.

What's a little mud, grass, tidy, tickle between friends?

White-browed Crake strolls across drying area at edge of Payets Tower pool in Townsville Common, ignoring intruder slopping alongside in mud-enclosed boots. But what's a little mud between friends?

Bit wetter underfoot for Comb-crested Jacana. Not quite in the clear either. But what's a little grass between friends?

Below the tower, Crimson Finch cleans up (as requested) after getting stuck into sticky grass seeds. But what's a little tidiness between friends?

In the tower itself, resident Possum also happy to smile (well, sort of) for the camera. No madness this, being up the pole: warmth, protection, peace (most of the time). But what's a little tickle between friends?







 

Young Jacana takes catch of the day

One species not put off breeding by the lack of flooding rains this year has been Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea). Plenty of immature birds about. This one faced flurries of challenges from a mature bird seeking to drive it off the feeding zone, a pool at the tail end of Palm Creek on Mungalla Station.

But the youngster persisted and was rewarded by the biggest catch of the day. I'll leave ID to others, but prey seems to be short of legs.

Elsewhere on the station, Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius), a first for the Mungalla list, boosting total to 208 species. 

We'll sit it out amongst all the green stuff

Go to a cyclone shelter? Nope, we'll sit it out amongst all the green wet stuff, thanks very much. Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) male and junior in pre-Ita sunshine on front lagoon at Tyto Wetlands.

But Ita's done what Yasi couldn't: sprung an old leak in my old caravan ceiling. Hah, we laugh at moist lino. A few more hours gusting and and Ita will be pouring south of Ingham and all should be well, if somewhat flooded here and there. 

Jacana leads way in the daily grind

Immature Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) cocks a speculative eye at  blue  water lily in Tyto but even a young bird knows tasty items live just below the water's surface.  

At Taylors Beach, Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) steps away after probing for food with its sensitive bill.

At Jourama Falls, Australian Brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) takes a break from scratching up breakfast.

And at Mungalla Station, Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) pauses between flights for flying prey.

Stepping out in style

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) shows aquatic bounce in Tyto. 

Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) poises about the next step. 

And Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) pauses from strutting its stuff.