White-ear shows up but white ears don't show out

Why doesn't this White-eared Monarch have white ears? Nope, not because birds don't have visible ears (mostly). Juveniles of the species don't acquire the white facial patches until they lose juvenile and immature plumages.

Bird flew in to Townsville Common today more or less out of the blue (blue sky marking fourth day without rain; species unseen for months). Several honeyeaters chasing floral nectar ignored newcomer, which concentrated on digging meatier prey from foliage and branch bark.

And while juvenile behaved a bit differently from an adult in not spending almost all its time fluttering around top and outside of foliage its black and white wing colouring told of change from juvenile to immature status.

Another uncommon visitor recently, juvenile/immature Square-tailed Kite. Adult birds have broad black tail bar, barely hinted at above. Given the species' huge territorial range the young kite may have flown in from hundreds of kilometres away.

Big swallow would be more than welcome

Juvenile Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) in Tyto today just one of many youngsters sitting around in nests and on branches impatiently awaiting incoming fare.

Almost alongside the swallow, Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis) was getting fast service from both parents.

And near the main lagoon, Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) about to make delivery to nest artfully hidden in bladey grass a metre from major track.  

Count on Crimson Finches

Can always count on a few Crimson Finches (Neochmia phaeton) in Tyto - and so it was today.

Not always easy to get close.

But young birds can be a little less wary.

Bit tricky trying to line two up in the same depth of field.
Click pix to enlarge