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).

Triller down from tree tops

White-winged Triller (Lalage sueurii) comes down from the tree tops to chase breakfast in Tyto. More males of the species than usual this season but females have not been as prominent.

Certainly not so common as Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis). Bladey grass has invaded many former shaded areas since Cyclone Yasi and grassbirds are everywhere in noisy numbers.

As always, so too Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris). This juvenile one of several throughout the wetlands lately.

What's ahead of young Whistler?

One day this juvenile Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) - in  Tyto today - may grow up to be ...

... a mighty male boasting in song of fighting the birds in the fearsome Toyo chrome bumper. Most females wouldn't waste the energy on Quixotic territoriality.