Crabbing the opportunity

Sea change today failed to find any rarities on the coast at Lucinda (famed for 5km sugar jetty: Yasi-damaged) but did yield a Beach Thick-knee (Esacus neglectus) out hunting soldier crabs (noted for marching forward and not sideways).

The crabs stopped marching and spiralled into the sand and safety and the bird (formerly Beach Stone-curlew) strode off.

Then took off just as we were striding along nicely together.

Left me a bit peeved, but too sunny a day to get crabby. 
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Flight angle on Spangled Drongo

Angled for flight shots in Tyto this week. 

Almost got one Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) right.

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) easier to track, though few to be seen up close because sugar cane harvest now drawing them away.   
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Many a catch to prey pictures

Hard work catching up with the few Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes (Coracina novaehollandiae) in Tyto this past month.

So bit of luck getting shot of one about to swallow insect.

Not so lucky, Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta). Lightning jab into the water comes up empty. 

Intermediate Egrets (Ardea intermedia) catch more fish than Greats, but mostly so tiny they are usually swallowed in a flash.  
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Tern splashes into action

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) in Tyto today didn't catch many fish.

Though it made quite a splash.

The only near-sharp pictures came with smallest catch of the day.

But bigger prey keeps us all going back another day.

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Squishy start to shining moment

Cuckoos love squishing caterpillars. Little Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites minutillus) gets some of the insides outside before tucking it away inside in Tyto yesterday.

Didn't manage to catch less common visitor, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus), with prey. 

And couldn't capture worthwhile image of Fan-tailed Cuckoo busy in the same patch of cheesewood trees, so above is second shot of Shining, thus turning failure into a shining moment. 
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Storking about the skyline

Haven't seen much of local Black-necked Storks (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) lately. 

But male flew close overhead this week and provided couple of offbalance snap shots from old bicycle.  

Also in the air above Tyto, Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) makes a pass over the main lagoon today.

Not quite in flight but part of recent skyline, pair of Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)..  
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Raptor capture rapture

Don't get many Wedge-tailed Eagles (Aquila audax) touching down in Tyto. Bird today mostly ignored three birders, who tallied seven raptors (Black, Whistling, Brahminy Kites; Brown Goshawk, Swamp Harrier, Australian Hobby) between them in less than an hour - best tally of the year by far.  

Sights included Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) - perhaps even this one, overhead earlier in week - trying to bully a Brahminy out meaty morsel: a sight to (s)kite about.    
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Looking into the background

Easy enough when chasing birds to see little else, even when it's occupying almost all the frame. So, Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) in Tyto the other day took my attention, but background of ruffled, leaden water makes the picture.

And Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) - an uncommon visitor - looks almost twice as attractive accompanied by reflection and wake.

On the other hand, messy background doesn't do much for an Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), though it hints at problems photographers face in obtaining uncluttered images.
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Yellows brighten grey days

Cloudy week calls for touch of colour to lift the spirits. So, even Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus) in Tyto yesterday comes with bright yellow background (crocodile warning sign).

Keeping with the theme, Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vielloti).

And even brighter, Yellow Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus). Warms the cockles, yes?
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Drongos far from stupid

They may at times sound a wee bit demented (specially in duets), but there's nothing stupid about Spangled Drongos (Dicrurus bracteatus).

Not only are they darkly. sparkly pretty (as above in Tyto today), they're also pretty aerobatic. That tail helps.

They also enjoy bullying other birds. Hey, they're smart, not perfect! 
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