Take a tip on White-bellied Sea-Eagles

Here's a tip on White-bellied Sea-Eagles. They've got two-tone tongues. Standard pink, with grey-brown flexible tips. Looking like claws, as in above image, but actually front section of tongue tightly folded lengthwise (an ability that genetically divides people: many can, many can't).

Another tip: the birds can be remarkably tolerant of a patient open approach. Bit of chat doesn't worry them either. Don't expect much by way of reply. 

And it can be frustrating trying to gain their full attention. They seldom deign to look straight at the camera, no matter how much direction is being given from behind the camera. 

Bank on power performance from Sea-Eagles

Been able to bank on power performances from White-bellied Sea-Eagles at the Melaleuca viewing area in the Town Common, Townsville, lately. Mostly at distance, as above.

Full power only becomes apparent with images from closer to bird thrusting away from paperback perch on a recent evening.

Another big bird in the air, but Australian Pelican is all grace.

Pied Stilts display fluke example of formation flying within full frame image. No cropping.

Raven gulls slow Sea-Eagle and chicken Swamp Harrier

Quickfire chain of conflicts beside and above earth dam wall, Town Common Conservation Park, Townsville, today.  Youngish White-bellied Sea-Eagle disputed possession of Tilapia with Swamp Harrier.

Fish left behind as birds squabbled across the sky. Australian Raven saw chance, flew down and off with the fish.

Magpie Lark took over from sea-eagle and launched attack on intruding harrier, driving it away.

Sea-eagle returned for fish. Too late. The fish had flown!

The raptors are all looking down on me

White-bellied Sea-eagle takes a dim view of me possibly too close to her (probable gender) in Townsville Town Common Con. Pk today. Should be another set of eyes (juvenile) looking out from nearby nest soon.

Osprey overhead at dam wall. Several aborted plunges, two big splashes. No fish. But did see off presumed partner to female Sea-eagle.

Swamp Harrier skirmished briefly with Osprey and Sea-eagle before heading south out of their territories.

Black-shouldered Kite nowhere to be seen today. Hard stare came yesterday as I walked under dead tree much used by several raptor species near the airport fenceline.

Hacking Sea-eagle shows off healthy tongue

Probably not a smoker, so White-bellied Sea-eagle's hacking cough from dead bough on nest tree in Townsville Common may have come from something bony only a big scavenger would eat.

Diet must be healthy enough, given colour of long tongue.

Coughing at an end, almost time to head off and see what's on morning menu.

Also busy hunting overhead these days, adult Brahminy Kite and immature offspring.

Beware that snake in the grass ...

Life was looking bright for male Red-backed Fairy-wren near Jacana hide in Townsville Common.
Quiet patch, no worrying competitors, industrious partner. Nest built, two eggs laid.

Then. Grass nest robbed overnight. Dastardly snake in the grass. Bury one's head in grief? That's not the way in nature. Just got to get on with grooming and life.

Also getting on, companionable White-lipped Green Treefrog, resident of Payet's Tower viewing platform. Resident indeed for so long it's initiated colour change to better match shaded interior on the upper deck of the tower.

Change also elsewhere in the conservation park. White-bellied Sea-eagle pair had mighty nest in dead tree collapse a few months back. After some delay new building began. Nothing so grandiose as previously, but they're calling it home and may even have laid first egg therein. Time will tell.   

Flights and frights of kites see off Sea-eagle

Immature White-bellied Sea-eagle stirred more spirited response than bargained for after swooping mixed mob of egrets and ibises on part-flooded airport grassland in Townsville today. Suddenly found itself under attack from first five Whistling Kites, then pair of Black Kites.

Minutes of defending itself often while flying upsidedown didn't hold much appeal and the much bigger bird sideslipped away to more peaceful air when the kites flew off, mission accomplished.

Elsewhere today, male Magpie Lark in Pallarenda Cons. Park hopped up on rail, revealing loss of left foot. Bird appeared to be coping well - as they often seem to under such disadvantage.

Also disadvantaged, earlier in the week, Squatter Pigeon found itself on Lake Ross dam side wall rocks with nowhere suitable to squat in hiding. After some uncertainty it chose to fly off.

In somewhat similar circumstance but very different habitat, Barking Owl in Town Common Cons. Park chose after taking early fright not to take flight.

After many a suspicious stare and glare the bird accepted my presence close by - and some minor harassment from smaller birds. It even settled to unconcerned preening as I said my thanks and goodbyes.

Parks and Wildlife Service burn destroys Osprey nest

Remember this?

And this?

Or this?

Now the scene is this.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife burned east of road in Town Common Conservation Park yesterday. Nest - with, possibly, hatchling/s - gone. Tree mostly gone. Only one of the three resident Ospreys close by today. Probably last year's youngster, late and yet to go off on its own, nervily calling and being harassed by Black Kites looking for after-burn pickings.

Further up the road, juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle fared better. Base of nest tree charred and ground around it covered in ash but youngster alert and confident today. Parents not sighted: almost certainly out hunting, maybe to add to the 16 turtle shells at base of tree.

'Disembarking' Sea Eagle lands big catch

White-bellied Sea Eagle sends chunk of bark flying as it lands big Tilapia along Ross River in Townsville.

Raptors ruffled and unruffled

Striking contrast between raptors from recent morning surveys: Nankeen Kestrel neat, unruffled ...

... White-bellied Sea-eagle, less than unruffled, though not ruffled by my close presence ...

... and female Eastern Osprey showing splendid spread of feathers on return to nest tree.

Next morning Baza bonus:

Flying start after being grounded by flu

Back on the road after the past 10 days 'flu' by. Just in time this morn to see perched Blue-winged Kookaburra fly down to road through the Town Common. Seems would-be prey got away.

White-bellied Sea Eagle would have larger prey in mind from vantage point overlooking flooded grassland. Bird's view not quite so clear as shown: bit of cloning removed messy foliage.

Forest Kingfisher also looks neater after major pruning by cloning away bits of dead tree. Pity one can't clone flu from the scene. And, yes, had my jab.

Sacred dive heads day of splashy catches

Catching Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) on the dive one of several highlights at Mungalla Station over weekend.

Can't claim super reflexes for this one. Bird was one of three launching from atop Leichhardt tree and swooping on insects just above water level and on hymenachne growing along the edge of pool below.

And White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) happened along overhead in time for leisurely tracking. The major blessing is having the underwings well lit.

Catch of the day for Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) came with the bird's only deep dive. After mostly scooping smaller fish from the surface, the bird took a steeper line into the water. It wasn't where I'd been focussing. No time for viewfinder so spun lens on gimbal and jammed shutter button for high-speed burst (almost always have camera on the setting). My catch not quite so perfect as bird's. Splashy though.

No such luck in Tyto today. Managed to draw glare from Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata). It's a mark of the species' acceptance of people that this look came after much arm-waving and whistling.