Catching them on the wing

Most birds look in their element on the wing. Pity it's so hard to capture them in the air. Distant looks at Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) at Orient Station yesterday don't do them justice.

Did catch an Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella) speeding past.

And another catching up with grasshopper.

Then again, sometimes catching a bird on the wing isn't good enough. Thus, one of the Striated Pardalotes (Pardalotus striatus) had to go.

And sometimes on the wing means something different, as with these Black-shouldered Kites (Elanus axillaris).

Painted Snipe sets off magic mangrove morning

Well, well, well, look who's standing around on a part-flooded track in the mangroves southeast of Ingham today. My rare friend from a flooded paddock in Orient Station last month, a male Australian Painted Snipe (Rostratula australis). 

And not just standing there, but throwing in a little bit of feather twirling before taking off.  

But look, look, look, almost on top of us both, the target species of the morning, a Mangrove Robin (Peneonanthe pulverulenta). Big bonus, sitting on nest and hopping off now and then to grab a quick feed.

And listen, listen, listen, and look at these lovely singers nearby, Striated Pardalotes (Pardalotus striatus), lerp-eating residents of the coastal gums.

Quite a morning.