Branching out from woodswallows to coucals

Stiff breezes appear to have assisted prey up towards small appreciative groups of White-breasted Woodswallows in recent mornings.

Spent a few hours trying to catch a few birds in flight. Bit of cheating going on with these images.

Birds were coming and going from dead upright branch. Which has been cloned from the pictures. The birds are otherwise simply too fast for me.

Lots slower, Pheasant Coucals wandering down the road, singly, or often lately in hopeful or breeding pairs.

The birds frustrate photographers by almost always running, jumping, climbing or flying into the light.

Almost always. But then comes 'that' morning.

'Stealth bomber' insect defies ID efforts

One day an insect will fly up, stop for a picture, and magically appear in the first field guide I turn to.
One day, not this day. So, I've no idea what big boy (20-25mm body) above is, or why it's shaped like a radar-deflecting bomber. Brief glimpse in flight of orangey wing, or underwing.

Away from insects, always a buzz to find Galah or two alongside the road. Feeding birds tend to be more approachable. Extra interest came with soft calls between bird and partner as a walker and his dog appeared. Sort of: 'Might be time to go?' 'Yes, I think maybe we should.' 'Just across the way, all right?' "That'll do nicely.'

Bit less discussion of flight among White-breasted Woodswallows. Insect eaters don't have it quite so easy as flower munchers. To catch food on the wing the food first must take to the sky. The past few mornings have been mixed for the woodswallows.

Wee while with woodswallows

Spent a wee while lately looking for White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) action in Tyto. 

Flying comes easy as falling off a branch, but flight pictures? Not so easy.

But a passing White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) lifted my spirits at least.