Brown Goshawk launches to latch onto early lunch

Brown Goshawk launches from open perch on way to grabbing unidentified insect from patch of leucaena in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park this morning.

Luck with me because bird dropped onto low perch to start ripping into prey.

Feeding continued on higher branch of nearby tree after bird decided I'd got too close.

Earlier, bit of uncommon colour on roughly cleared foredune with eight Galahs feeding on fallen terminalia nuts. First sighting for me of species at the park.  

 

'Stealth bomber' insect defies ID efforts

One day an insect will fly up, stop for a picture, and magically appear in the first field guide I turn to.
One day, not this day. So, I've no idea what big boy (20-25mm body) above is, or why it's shaped like a radar-deflecting bomber. Brief glimpse in flight of orangey wing, or underwing.

Away from insects, always a buzz to find Galah or two alongside the road. Feeding birds tend to be more approachable. Extra interest came with soft calls between bird and partner as a walker and his dog appeared. Sort of: 'Might be time to go?' 'Yes, I think maybe we should.' 'Just across the way, all right?' "That'll do nicely.'

Bit less discussion of flight among White-breasted Woodswallows. Insect eaters don't have it quite so easy as flower munchers. To catch food on the wing the food first must take to the sky. The past few mornings have been mixed for the woodswallows.

On the green stuff and in the pink

Not your usual visitor to grassy dunes, Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) chomped away on choice bits of mown strip of Coral Sea foreshore at Forrest Beach east of Ingham yesterday.

Hinchinbrook Health Care outpost just across the way, but bird clearly so in the pink as to need no care. Indeed, not a care in the world.