Little Kingfisher featuring in previous post finally stopped teasing me and sat still at roadside culvert pool in Town Common, Townsville, today. 

Luck continued later on with Rufous Fantail presenting out in the open - best posing I've had from the species in about 15 years.

Rainbow Bee-eater rounded out happy morning.

Birds - treasures at little cost in times good and bad

Times are tough all round these days so free things that bring joy must be treasured. And what gives more joy and costs so little as time with nature's colourful wonders, birds. Today, a few recent sightings.  Enjoy! Above, Black-necked Stork, with fish, Melaleuca viewing area, Town Common Conservation Park, Townsville.

Young Blue-faced Honeyeater looking to give bottlebrush a licking, Town Common.

Crimson Finches (male, top; female above) take short break from seed-seeking, Town Common.

Purple Swamphen (Pukeko to Kiwis) stands out in fast-drying habitat at Ross River dam borrow pits.

Orange-footed Scrubfowl at home amid leaf litter in Cape Pellarenda Conservation Park.

Magpie family trio out and about and obligingly almost underfoot at Cape Pellarenda.

Rainbow Bee-eater perches near nest tunnel at side of road, Town Common, Townsville.

Bee-eater takes flight but others show no fright

Rainbow Bee-eater took flight this morning in the Townsville Town Common but a few other birds have been more camera friendly lately.

None more so than immature White-eared Monarch. Almost perched on lens today. Too close to focus. Naturally, whizzed away far beyond reach when it did decide to go. So, picture from earlier in week.

Yesterday, male Leaden Flycatcher had plenty to say along fire break between road and golf course. If the bill was turned a little more the bird might present as one of those bird or rabbit illusions.

Bit of a puzzle with juvenile Black-necked Storks this week. Three youngsters became four  yesterday. Seems a loner turned up and more or less joined the regular trio. Today, loner alone. No sign of juniors. Above, female parent yesterday.

Much smaller and harder to gain focus on, Fairy Gerygone two days ago stayed still long enough for an almost sharp shot.

And here's a reminder of the golden rule: don't be lured to eating fruit and berries because the birds in the bush are gobbling them up. Here's an Australian Raven chomping into Black or Deadly Nightshade. Black is deadly and ripe Deadly is black. Stick to Blackberries and leave black berries well alone.

Last, reminders of Tyto Wetland days in Ingham with one of the Common's Crimson Finches. Not many to be seen for a few months but they're popping up here and there these days. Not always quite so prettily as this male.

Rainbow Bee-eater tunnels take their toll

Many Rainbow Bee-eaters turn up on migration from the north looking rather spiffy.

But that sharpness often gives way to wear and tear - at both ends - as the sand flies from nesting tunnels.

Many birds show blunted and broken tips of bills, and tatty tail streamers.

On the other hand, imagine looking this good at one's worst!

Oriole gets the juices flowing

Yummy! Self-creaming breakfast. Olive-backed Oriole gets juices flowing in the Townsville Common yesterday after bashing caterpillar catch against a branch. Two Orioles were among a wee wave of insectivores not often seen in the park recently.

In the same casuarina as the Oriole, immature Rufous Whistler takes smaller prey. (Seen in same tree, but no usable images, Restless Flycatcher and Spectacled Monarch).

Today, came across Rainbow Bee-eater intent on tiny prey emerging from road metal. Tiny flying ants, I think, though nothing found upon search after bird flew off.

Easier task obtaining food for granivores. But Double-barred Finch mistimed grab at tiny flower, presumably carrying wee seed. Several finches were busy picking at the plants.

Nutmeg Mannikin (formerly Spice Finch, latterly Scaly-breasted Munia: what goes round ...) sticks to grass seed. (An uncommon four flocks of 8-16 Nutmegs seen this morning, about double usual numbers).

Welcome to the world of almosts

Close. Almost. Not quite right. One of those mornings in the Common today. Started with Brown Goshawk. Flew from ground and stayed in shadow and behind twig. Big adjustment made to lighten image.

Rainbow Bee-eater stuck  tight to branch and flew off before I could adjust camera angle inside Troopy to get full tail in shot.

Suicidal Black-fronted Dotterel walked along road even as traffic passed within two metres. But just would not look my way. And flew off teasingly whenever I tried to walk up on it.

Nothing new in grasses and branches getting in the way of course. Thus, Brolga the other day.

And Crimson Finch.

And Pheasant Coucal.

And Blue-winged Kookaburra.

Too difficult to fix many untidy images, but clone tool and tight cropping can work wonders. Others must be cast aside and prayers offered for better luck next time.

 

Some ware over the Rainbow

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) adorns branch in morning light at Mungalla Station.

Could look better, by looking my way.

Could look better still, by a little bit of tweaking.

Dry and hazy but not so dusty

Bit dusty along Orient Road these days as we await the Wet, but images of Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) from earlier in year not so dusty. From memory, the idea was  to show that level wires (and birds) beat the as-shot tilter.

Lesson from Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) at Jourama Falls is clear: the bird isn't  close enough. In passing, the creek-loving pair recently abandoned a sturdy nest - after having a previous effort collapse into the water.

Much haze turning stealing all blue from the sky this past week, so Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) in Tyto pales in comparison to many shots of the species, though the delicacy of colour pleases me.