White-browed Robin luck only for the local

Why be expert when being lucky works so well sometimes? Chasing White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa) in Tyto yesterday, with handheld 600mm lens, mistakenly ended shooting on pre-set aperture f11 rather than manual f11. Result was shutter speed of 1/30 instead of 1/800 (with fill flash, -1).

Miraculously one of three images proved almost tack sharp in spite of snail-speed shutter. But wait, there's more luck. For another hour or more tried to find a robin for two birders from Sydney. Not a peep or even the briefest of glimpses. Of course after they'd reluctantly been forced to quit the hunt another three birds showed themselves, without offering anything like so attractive a setting. Sorry, Nancy and Dirk!

Did get Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis) in super setting. Too far off and so a big crop, but all else is bang on (after minor twig removal).

Reverse case with Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta). Almost certainly the only one of its species in the wetlands, the bird stayed so close underfoot the 600 couldn't focus and all efforts to get in-flight shots failed totally. 

Kookaburra, Crimson Finch looking sharp

Two looks at female Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) spotted untypically on the ground at Tyto yesterday without any prey in sight. A few seconds later and bird was back in nearby trees ready to pounce. 

No pouncing involved with Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) on pandanus in Tyto. Two views again, this time to demonstrate the sharpness available through the image stabilisation of the Canon 600mm even when being hand-held by an offbalance photographer.

Ditto with this very uncommon visitor to Tyto, Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) on dead lotus head in the main lagoon. Far from perfect but much better than I could ever hope for from 400mm nonIS lens.

Flycatchers Leaden and Restless stay low

Too windy for snatching insects high in trees at Mungalla Station today so male Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) stayed low and foraged among sicklepod and other weeds.

So too did much this Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta),  much less common species  in the Ingham area. About six years since my last local sighting.