Hungry Jacana gets last laugh

No more obsessed with Comb-crested Jacanas (Irediparra gallinacea) than with other birds in Tyto but they have proved rather centre of recent focus. (The junior four all OK today).

Did not set out to capture this Jacana seizing shred of water lily leaf yesterday. The birds do this on occasion, probably a byproduct of their search for insect (larval?) morsels from the underside of the leaves.

My hope was for flight shots when bird reacted to slow sinking by uplifting elsewhere. Got caught unable to use tripod and in blazing sun waiting, waiting, waiting ... Camera got heavier. Bird wouldn't uplift. Sun got hotter, hotter, hotter. Camera heavier, heavier, heavier.

Of course, bird waited till I lowered camera. Uplifted, and strolled off, laughing (I have no doubt whatsoever) at me.