Young fairy-wren turns up head, not nose, at greens

Unlike young children juvenile birds want to swallow anything elders give them. But what if the juicy green caterpillar looks too large?

No problem, young Red-backed Fairy-wren might have said (could it but speak) in Town Common today.

Playing with your food isn't always such a bad thing. Bit of a flick and twist of the head wraps caterpillar up.

No need to slurp it spaghetti fashion. Open wide and down she goes.

Who says kids won't eat their greens?

Hole in the ground hides Red-backed Fairy-wren nestlings

Here's the mystery. The nest hidden in long, thick dry grass is empty. But the Red-backed Fairy-wrens keep sneaking in with insects and leaving empty-billed.

Couldn't solve the poser yesterday. Put bit more thought into it overnight and searched more thoroughly this morn.

Found these two tucked into hole on ground close to deserted nest. One poser answered.
However, what happened to number three, or number four? Fairy-wrens don't usually do these things by twos.

As yet, no answer to that. There is a strong possibility, which remains unstated for now. Feel free to speculate.

Another question arises from the feeding pattern observed. Why should the female do almost all the catching?

Could it be because the male knows research shows that many clutches are multi-fathered?

Which means the male may be helping females at other nests. Which, in turn, possibly helps explain why fairy-wrens are so sociable and (though not in this instance) work in kinship teams to feed nestlings.                                                

Red and black brings on brown study

What's black and red with a tricky bit(e) of white and presents a watcher's brown study?

It's the male Red-backed Fairy-wren - with a grub (the tricky bit(e)).

Two brown birds. No male here? Not so fast. Bird on left shows small black patch under upper breast feathers. Last of moult? New colour emerging?

The big question: why do I never see enough blotchy birds to equal the numbers of black and red males here today and gone tomorrow?

Surprise find tops glittering sights

Surprise find flitting about the outer foliage of trees at western end of the main lagoon today, immature White-eared Monarch (Carterornis leucotis). Been about three years since species last turned up in Tyto. The atypically dry year may bring even more uncommon sightings as drought takes a killer grip on almost all of central and western Queensland.

Much more common, but difficult to do full colour justice to, male Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus), one of many glittering in the sunshine today.

Another looking smart against clear blue sky, Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), seldom quite so willing to let me walk close by.

And what brilliant morning in Tyto is complete without the local darling,  Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton).

Total species count for the morning: 74. Listed on eBird

Easy as falling off a log - or on one

Some days bird photography comes easy as falling off a log - or falling into focus on one. So, Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora).

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii)

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus)

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis)

Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

All at Mungalla Station last few weeks.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos deft captains of kernels

Food ... the daily grind. Not always noted for tidy table manners, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii) male (top) and female show dainty touch as they pry kernels from tough native olives.    

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) jumps into tasty mango.

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) picks at possibly insect treats. 

Golden head stands out in growing grass

Can almost see the grass growing by the minute around Ingham these warm and wet days, so plenty to hear but sometimes little to see along Orient Station fences today. Best of the morning, Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis).

Lots of noise from many Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis), but only one bird lingered for the camera.

Several groups of Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus). Not many sitting still however. They don't let the grass grow under their feet. 

Big swallow would be more than welcome

Juvenile Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) in Tyto today just one of many youngsters sitting around in nests and on branches impatiently awaiting incoming fare.

Almost alongside the swallow, Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis) was getting fast service from both parents.

And near the main lagoon, Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) about to make delivery to nest artfully hidden in bladey grass a metre from major track.