Knotted Keelback kicks up stink after road rescue

Bird in the hand worth two in the bush, so what's a snake-in-hand worth? Not two in the grass. Palmful of foul fluids, that's what. Keelback (Freshwater Snake) also gives firm hint about getting knotted after being plucked for its own good off the road in the Town Common, Townsville. Talk about ingratitude.

Also on the road, two of three Lesser Black Whipsnakes writhing together with no apparent purpose. No typical upright coiling tests of strength between males, no pheromone-induced breeding frenzy. The three soon departed the road, leaving behind yet another mystery of nature.

Meanwhile, on the mud at Pandanus viewing area Masked Lapwing enjoys brief respite from aerial blitz by pair of fellow Lapwings. Something about the unwanted bird's dirty face perhaps?

And a Glossy Ibis feeding peacefully in the distance had feathers ruffled by low-diving pair of passing Glossies. The bird's resentment could almost be felt from 50 metres away. 

Glossy Ibis worth second look and more

Spent an hour trying in vain to get close to Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) at roadside pool, gave up - and 200 metres down the road came upon this bird feeding hungrily in transient pool on mown reserve beside main railway line and unconcerned by my arrival. Several images, all full frame, the first without any tweaking...

... the second processed from same jpeg with minor colour adjustment and sharpening ...

... the third processed from Raw file, converted to Tiff, with similar colour adjustment and sharpening.

The bonus fourth is starting point of work in progress.

Slow and kneesy gets close to wary Glossy

How to sneak up on a wary Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)? 

Slow and kneesy does the trick. Camera and low tripod first through long grass and chomped hymenachne, knees in mud and bum near heels.

No fun, but beats crawling. Anyway, did the trick at Mungalla Station today.

And here's a walk-in shot from another day. 

Who's a pretty boy and boy and girl, then?

Been a good year for Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) sightings near Orient Station. Two males and female (left) brighten a rusty stretch of barbed wire.

A few more Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) sightings than common in Tyto lately. No way of telling whether they're boys or girls, but they're pretty, right?

Pretty special, too, male Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) in Tyto.

But few can open their mouths and compete with male Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto), a favourite near old stockyards at Mungalla Station. Pretty spectacular! 

Night-herons by light of day

Nankeen Night-Herons (Nycticorax caledonicus) nocturnally prey on wetlands wildlife (not all empty freshwater mussels shells are down to water rats) but only sunlight does justice to their colours.

Latest survey at Mungalla Station near Ingham found about 60 roosting above fish-laden, tree-shaded Palm Creek pools.

More distant during survey, Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans) ...

... and Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)