Monitor with right-of-way not spotted right away

Who gives way on footbridge, Yellow-spotted Monitor or unspotted bird watcher? Naturally, dinkum locals have right-of-way. I step aside, Spotty ambles forward, glances to the left and tumbles clumsily to ground about 30cm below. Dawdles off without a backward look. All in a morning's stroll through Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park in Townsville. 

Beware the hazard in the hazard

Hazard in the hazard with two-metre plus Saltwater Crocodile a short slice off the fairway at a Townsville golf club. Snuck around for front-on pictures but got only a muddy blur. Big difference in our reaction times.

Ditto with Yellow-spotted Monitor on road a bit later in the day. Rising afternoon temps will draw more reptiles out into the open. But the warmth doesn't make them any easier to get ahead of.

Did get ahead of flying Brolga the other day. Fluke shot almost exactly filled the frame as the bird passed overhead.

Slightly behind Masked Lapwing today before getting bird in focus. It's a subspecies, Vanellus novaehollandiae, less common in the north than V. miles. Picture shows distinguishing extension of black down back of neck. Pity it only hints at the continuation down to the breast.

Huntsman bagged, turtle jagged, mantids snagged, kite ragged, monitor flagged

Wasn't hunting the Huntsman when this Huntswoman turned up in carry bag discarded by the Ross River. She didn't need a bag because she supplies her own to carry her large family of tiny offspring about.

Though looking frighteningly big and speedy to some, Huntsmen merely tickle slightly crawling up an arm - mine. Can't report on the youngsters because all were quickly returned to the bush.

Wasn't after dead Turtles either. But came upon this one initially being ripped into by pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles (their favourite food, I think). My sudden appearance led to killers fleeing and secondary feeders, pair of Australian Ravens, dropping in.

They, in turn, were driven off by immature pair of sea-eagles, which, in their turn, gave way to this immature Wedge-tailed Eagle. The eagle tried to fly off with turtle, dropped it deep in paragrass, .and all ended up missing out. Chances are pigs or dogs sniffed it out later.

As with sea-eagles, Brown Falcon likes to sit and wait for prey (big insects, small reptiles preferred) to appear.

It didn't take kindly to Collared Sparrowhawk collar its crossbar. Odd row ensued. Falcon drove Sparrowhawk to tree. Irked, Sparrowhawk took on much bigger aggressor. But lost out after bit of to and fro in tree and above.

Another loser, today near Bald Rock in the Town Common, Brahminy Kite. Three kites about the place, but no match for 14 Australian Ravens.

In all, saw four ravens take mantids (probably Brown Praying Mantis) from melaleucas within 10 minutes, one doubly successfully with two in bill at same time. Showing off, that is!

Shoving off rather than showing off, Yellow-spotted Monitor close by today decided to swim for it on my approach. Didn't reckon on departing tide. Played dead. Allowed itself to be stroked, picked up and when released swam off sedately. Luckier than the turtle.