Martins amid mud at Macknade

Found small flock of Fairy Martins (Petrochelidon ariel) busy mixing building and foraging today at Macknade Wetland Project near Halifax. 

Pink blob is out-of-focus water lily.

Not so many Red-browed Finches (Neochmia temporalis) in Tyto lately. 

But small group turned up the other day and messed about amidst Yasi debris. 
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Figbird gives no fig for rivals

See a slightly aggressive air about this Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vielloti)? The solitary male has been defending a fig tree against all comers for more than 10 days. The Benjamin fig fruit is dry and tasteless. And most birds chased away have no interest in it. But the figbird cares not a fig for that. It's 'his' tree!

Yellow Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus) not too worried about competition for insects on pink lotus. Today, an Australian Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus australis) made a sudden and rare appearance on same flowers, but dashed off too quickly for me :-(  
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Bigger fish catch on

Commented a bit back that Intermediate Egrets (Ardea intermedia) usually take very small fish. Naturally, along comes an exception.

Poised motionless for some time before jumping into action.

Quick return to Yasi debris tossed to lagoon margin by shire cleanup team.

Near head-first positioning of fish, ready for fast swallow.

More distant, and a Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarba melanoleucos)  matches the egret's catch size. 


Footnote: Fishing world full of ones that got away, but only rarely would such stories be told in the bird world! 
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Tyto sights for the luckless

Open days this weekend and Italian Festival next weekend mean big increases in Tyto visitor numbers. For those not able to make it - and for most who did, but didn't get lucky - a few birds from the past week or so.

Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton)

Yellow Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus)

Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus)

Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides)
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Toeing, flowing and no-going on the water

Walking, winging on water: Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) makes tracks in Tyto yesterday.

Walking, winging in water: Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) shakes feathers loose while feeding in drying creek pool today.

No walking here! Saltwater Crocodile bakes motionless (most days) at Macknade revegetation area east of Ingham.   
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Crimson worth the wait

Some days birds seem set to tantalise by refusing to come out into the open. As with this male Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) in Tyto yesterday.

But the mass of grasses and sedge also gave me a chance to edge closer without spooking him.

After 10 minutes - and very briefly - a clear shot. Not great, but worth the wait.
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Pale-yellow Robin stands out

Trip up Wallaman Falls road today failed to locate rarities but added to Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito) collection.

Also got close to Macleay's Honeyeater (Xanthotis macleayanus), without any luck in the pose.
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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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