Great expectations fall into chastening hollows

 

Yeah, gidday. One of my less than many readers got in touch the other day. Not seeing much effort on the old blog lately. Was I OK? Touching, such concern for my wellbeing. Anyway, all's well with me. Can't say same for bloody Blogspot. Changes to assist mobile users have stuffed up my blog workflow. That's part of it. There's also a desire for more depth. Citizen science with touch more sci.

So, settled in for daily look-in on Barking Owls and Tawny Frogmouths pairs that began breeding in late October. Tawny Frogmouth male sat in clear view from scores of walkers and drivers daily passing by in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park. Female Barking Owl settled inside big hollow stump in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park, watched over by male. Weeks go by, tick males' presence each day. Day 50 comes and goes. Nothing changes at or near nests. Then it does. Male owl not on duty. Male frogmouth not on nest. Sneaky scrape on owl nest trunk. No female owl appears. Gone. Check all about frogmouth nest. Male on nearby branch. With female, suddenly there after 50 days unseen. No youngsters. Lesson? No sure things in nature. Better luck next year perhaps. Though owls have now failed three years running. 

So, to the pictures. There's me, out from behind binos. But beware. It's not the real me. Look closely, it's me flipped. Left is really right because picture is shot via mirror in local cemetery (no, I've no idea why toilet block has external mirror).

And there's Mr Frogmouth sitting stolidly on duty during his fruitless days under the baking sun.

And Mrs Frogmouth suddenly returned from who knows where to again sit beside her mate.

And two Barking Owls, one consistently failing to meet my eye since quitting watch over the nest. 

And there's Mrs Owl, back in the days - and nights - of expectation. 

The birds just get on with life, the watcher feels an ironic and somewhat chastening hollowness. 

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.

Yawny Tawny ignores Aussie mozzie

Deep in the heart of Mozzieland sits the Tawny Frogmouth. Unmoving, as usual.

But wait. Things are stirring. Pesky Brown-backed Honeyeaters want the Tawny gone.

Which brings what counts as frenzy from Tawny. Sleepy eye opens. Head turns. Nothing to see here. Back to snooze.

Mozzies? Let them join crowd and cloud around photographer.