Young Osprey near flight into world of wonder

Juvenile Osprey taking interest today in aerial world it's near ready to join.

And female (pictured when junior was still inside shell) less anxious about movement close to nest.

At other end of the conservation park, Red-backed Fairy-wrens' two youngsters quit their hole in the ground some time yesterday afternoon.

So female no longer needs to remove excreta. She also appears to have shed part of workload.

Male today was making many more food deliveries to the yound birds - which went from hole-bound yesterday to ground sprinters this morning. But they ran in different directions, forcing parents to hunt about and listen to the high begging calls.

Feeding nearby the other day, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike with tree frog plucked from the pandanus. It didn't last long.

Meantime, here's the food. Guess the feeder. Who'd have thought Australian Ravens went for Dodder vine fruit? Pair spent about five minutes yesterday gobbling ripe (rather sweet) and unripened fruit.

Finally, no, it's not a big golden cheese. Big Moon from last week. Rather sweet too, though untasted.

Fairy-wren trio flies apart

Seldom capture tidy grouping of Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus) so above in Tyto today worth more than one picture.

Even though slightly distant trio rapidly became duo.

Also rather distant, Australian Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus australis). Scleria is lately 'alive' with them. (Also suddenly noisily prominent, Tawny Grassbirds, in shrubby bladey grass.)  
Click pix to enlarge

Stiffed for kingfisher answers

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) stiffly alert in Tyto the other day. Bird had been perched unconcerned above a creek pool and allowed approach to almost 12 metres.

Posture changed suddenly to ramrod straight. Bird stared intently up as it shifted about on branch for at least two minutes. No sight or sound to explain reaction. Similar poses when kingfishers squabble last a few seconds. The threat (goshawk? snake? avian paranoia??) passed, bird relaxed. Walk on none the wiser.

Little bit wiser about male Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus). Bird in Tyto yesterday shows better definition of blacks, though pose hides the red.

Also had another go at best of previous images, including cloning out branch acoss tip of tail. Better, but far from perfect.

Shining Flycatchers: male tried nest for size yesterday; also bringing material for female to place. Comb-crested Jacana sitting on 'nest' (minuscule raised patch 50 metres away atop floating leaves: eggs not visible) directly in front of Tyto lookout. And two week-oldish chicks spotted hiding within scleria in front of hide yesterday.

Finches splash the red about

Plenty of Crimson Finches (Neochmia phaeton) young and old adding their range of reds to the wetlands greenery these days.

The full range of colour splashed about the place much determined by sunshine. However nothing makes most birds shine more than highlights in the eye. It's tempting (and easy) to add same. I have resisted all temptation - in this post!

Immature bird caught today. No glint in the eye for plain youngster.

And a little more red. This Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) brought glint to my eye. Closest I've come lately to satisfying shot of species. Pity morning glare and shadow proved too much to fix.

Caught these Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus) preening yesterday. Eye problems here: female mostly kept nictitating membrane up as male preened her; his eye, as always with species, lost against black plumage.