Godwit tailed across mud just in time

Early morning walk out on Tyto mud came just in time yesterday to capture sole Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) of the season feeding at western end of main lagoon. Overnight came the Wet. Goodbye now to such walks till late 2015.

Goodbye too to Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) foraging out in open near the hide. Species likes secure footing, vanishes inside scleria when the rains come.

Even White-browed Crake (Amaurornis cinerea) won't be so easily walked up on as prey becomes harder to find with the lagoon's rise. On the plus side, Bitterns Black and Little will be among growing numbers of birds benefitting from the Wet. 

Up early to spot more Spotlesses

Up early to catch Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) or two out on the drying weed mat in front of the Tyto hide today.

The red-eyed 'chocolates' stand out in the light but fast melt into the scleria shadows if second thoughts arise.

And on to three cases of second thoughts, images processed but set aside and later redone. So ...

... Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica)

... Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

... Dragonfly in flight: rare successful exercise with 300mm lens and manual focus.

Stepping out in style

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) shows aquatic bounce in Tyto. 

Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) poises about the next step. 

And Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) pauses from strutting its stuff.

Spotless Crake spotted stepping out

Not often so easy to spot, Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis) peers from the scleria ...

... and ventures out as Tyto's main lagoon shrinks ...

... and exposes some interesting mud.