Eight standouts for July in the Common

Eight birds stand out from the rest caught by the camera in July: Brown Falcon, Spangled Drongo, Dusky Moorhen, Golden-headed Cisticola, Grey Fantail, Magpie Goose, Nankeen Kestrel, Willie Wagtail. Here's hoping for even better in August - and an end to rain so we get more migratory species dropping in later in the year. 

Dusky Moorhen stands out after owl's no-show

Dusky Moorhen pauses while attending to morning toilette in Townsville Palmetum. Not my target bird, but couldn't find Rufous Owl reportedly returned to former roosting spot near front gate.

Another consolation prize after mystery shorebird vanished, Black Kite gets glowing makeover from rising sun on sands beside the Ross River.

Struck gold with Golden-headed Cisticola against golden background (distant dry grasses) in the Town Common.

Crested Pigeon sits in tiny patch of green grass (from leaking pipe) amidst otherwise bone-dry blocks along beside the Ross River Dam.

Apology: Bit of a limp blog. Dropped soap on foot last week. Haematoma: big bleed under skin. RICE: rest, ice, compression, exercise. Exercise too soon. Extend rest, compression. Blog on. 

Buttonquail vanishes with a zip

Red-backed Buttonquail (Turnix maculosus) takes a rare few steps away from cover before realising error and zipping back into the long stuff at Tyto yesterday. Have flushed a few lately, but the birds show no preference for any particular area so sightings are a matter of luck.

Lucky to see a Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa). This maturing bird dropped in for a few days and just as randomly disappeared. Unlike the only other Dusky sighted in the wetlands the bird stayed well away from the edges of the main lagoon.

Sticking close to the edges of the new lagoons under the even newer walkway from the info centre to the near completed cafe/civic centre/lookout tower, the two Muscovy Ducks that turned up earlier in the week. New species for Tyto, but a potential challenge to native birds.

Also turning up from out of the blue, an Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus). Spotted the bird flying from the west toward Rain Trees near the carpark two days ago. No sign since. Seldom seen in Tyto and last seen early in 2008.