Santa works magic on glimpse of Paradise present

Isn't Santa just Christmas? Asked North Pole person (PC post!) to magic iffy shot of Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Ho Ho Ho job's done.

Seems it's once a year deal only. So I've asked for stocking full of post-processing tips. And a flasher monitor. And digiscoping. And ... Too greedy? Well, aren't we all, this time of year?

Always up for gifts of grace from Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. Female incoming above at Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park yesterday.

And another outgoing after feeding on Xmas mix of tree nuts and fallen seeds.

Earlier present from almost same location in the park, Yellow-throated Miner, beside itself after being told no other member of species seen or listed previously at the site.

Get a close up of my throat, it said. See. See why I'm a Yellow-throated.

And how about a side view? (Bit of a bighead, this bird).

Not, however, so big as Tawny Frogmouth, present at Ross River Bush Garden. One of three shifting from night to night to keep everyone guessing next morning.

Also present nearby, Striated Heron poised on lily pad.

Finally, return to Pallarenda for lovely Lovely Fairy-wren. Female needs some of the Santa magic to perfect the picture.

But  she'll have to do, for the present.

Great Bowerbird tucks into last of figs

Great Bowerbird about to swallow one of fast-diminishing sweet figs from fruitful and recently fruit-full tree at entry to Townsville Town Common Conservation Park early this morning.

Earlier in week of scattered showers and some (but not enough) heavy rain found Galah tucking into morning greens alongside road to the Common.

Brief chat today with pair of young Magpies, but above image came during a previous walk across dry section (looking in vain for button-quail).

Continuing efforts to sort Torresian Crows from Australian Ravens, caught crow at Pallarenda showing diagnostic purple sheen in morning sunlight on breast.

Another happy sunlit shot (though better would have been natural perch), Pheasant Coucal beside road through the Common.

And Red-tailed Black Cockatoo launches from low during another recent early morning outing.

Black beauty, black chin, black head, black beast

Sunny days, blue skies, black beauty, black chin, black head, black beast.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoos limn limb.

Black-chinned Honeyeater gobbles grub.

Australian Raven shackles hackles.

Feral boar commands Common today.                     (Other pix: various sites)

Tale of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii) descend on Indian almonds with strong appetites and stronger beaks.

Males are solid black with red under-tail panels.

Females come with light spots and bars, and barred yellow-red tail panels.

Plenty of action with three or four small flocks interacting today.

But too much cloud to capture glossy glory.
Click pix to enlarge

Spotless Crake not so easy to spot

Immature Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) peers from out of cover beside a Tyto track. In maturity the drab grey back will give way to chocolate brown. The eyes will glow red. Ditto the legs. Worth waiting to see.

Always worth waiting to see: Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), scratched up from the holdover file.

Ditto this Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) crunching into green almond down the road from Tyto.

Updates: Male Comb-crested Jacana stays glued to surviving youngster. Three other families: four, three and two immatures. Plus two youngsters now independent.

Shining Flycatchers still feeding probably three hatchlings.

Black-Cockatoo cruises over wetlands

Male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) cruises over Tyto today. The most common of Australia's six black-cockatoos - and the only one in this area - is often heard passing by but is not attracted to the wetland's trees (loves Indian Almonds).

And the red tail? Hinted at in these pictures, after brutal adjusting colour curves. Have been trying for long time to get takeoff and landing shots of birds with tails splayed to show the red or yellow (female) tail panels. Another in the 'one day' file.

Shining Flycatcher nest: still abuilding.