Hanging out with Salty and hanging out of Kookaburra

Decided last post didn't do local Salty justice. Closer shot does the trick, I reckon. Can't imagine anyone silly enough to want to get much closer. Long, long lens put to good, safe use.

Another reptile in the park not so daunting. Caught Blue-winged Kookaburra with Common Tree Snake the other morning. Bird proceeded to tell two companions all about the catch. Then all three flew off. The snake most likely ended up inside its captor.

Snake-bitten frog lives to croak another day

Frog distress calls and sinuous thrashings told the tale even before sighting of Common Tree Snake and Green-striped Burrowing Frog in life and death struggle beside track to Bald Rock in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park today.

Snake held on. Frog swam. Snake dragged frog back into grass. Frog fought. Snake regripped. Frog sensed moment. Snake bit again. Too late. Frog gone.

Snake stood sentinel for many minutes. Frog long gone.

Closeup with three snakes

Happened upon a couple of pythons in past three days. Some followers eagerly await close encounters with snakes, so here goes!

Evening walk found Carpet Snake (Morelia spilota) doing some late sunning. But not keen on poking tongue out even when camera poked in face.

Unlike Amethystine Python (Morelia amethistina) taking it easy near Tyto lookout after consuming something bulky.

Finally, friendly Common Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata) in the Tyto hide. Caught halfway up hide, snake put up with 30 minutes one-way conversation and much stroking by hand. They are - of course - harmless.    
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Kookaburra takes long lunch

Extra-long lunch for this Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) in Tyto yesterday.

Common Tree Snake tries to delay the end.

But it's about to go down, down, down ... though the bird flew before the end came.

Shorter snack for Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) the other day.

Not so much playing with it's food as getting a more secure bite.
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White-browed Robins repay patience

Targets for birders in Tyto include White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa). Impatient group the other day quit quickly. Ten minutes later the bird above flitted here, there and everywhere among trees near the lookout knoll.

More bustling activity by the bird and its partner yesterday - and hungry calls - led to this sturdy juvenile.

Stick around long enough and the birds pop up, and occasionally almost accept the intrusion.

Thus, another crack at capturing magic of Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) eye colour.

 Finally, another eye. Common Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata) stretches out along top strand of fence wire in morning sun this week.     
Click pix to enlarge