All aboard the threesome express

Quick-change threesome for these Peaceful Doves (Geopelia striata) in Tyto today. Two taking turns on top. Bonus: lovely cocoa underwing colouring.

Three birds but no threesome as female Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) shakes her booty in front of two neighbouring Magpie Geese.

And three looks at Cuckoos: two Brush, one Little Bronze.
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Ratty's wind(-up) in the wallows

Came upon Water Rat snuffling and wallowing in some shady shallows yesterday.

Seems usually high-alert sensors were turned off.

Mr Rat left water and came sniffing to me before sensing danger and scarpering back into overgrowth. No messing about in boats in this neck of the woods!
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Blurred bird pans honeyeater hopes

Bit of blurry nest-building action from Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) near main lagoon in Tyto. Tried to pan with bird but ageing reflexes not up to task.

Here's a less action-packed view from today.

Thinking of nesting and calling (without success) for females, are two recently-arrived White-winged Triller (Lalage sueurii) males.

More interested in food than breeding, two Little Shrike-Thrushes (Colluricincla megarhyncha).
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More reflecting on Latham's Snipe

Overcast mornings no help in trying for 'the' shot of Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii).

But got a reflection.

And a reflective look.   
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Keeping an eye out for cuckoos

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus), one of several active and noisy in Tyto today.

Caught this bird with snack just before it was driven off by honeyeaters (cuckoos have few friends!).

But Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) has lately been more concerned with breeding than fending off parasitic cuckoos.

And Macleay's Honeyeater (Xanthotis macleayanus) intent  the other day only on gathering nectar.

However, Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) today carrying nest material should be wary. Cuckoos rather keen on popping their eggs into wren nests.   
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Kookaburra takes long lunch

Extra-long lunch for this Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) in Tyto yesterday.

Common Tree Snake tries to delay the end.

But it's about to go down, down, down ... though the bird flew before the end came.

Shorter snack for Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) the other day.

Not so much playing with it's food as getting a more secure bite.
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It's no snip snapping Snipe

Weary and wary, Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) make their way south away from the Asian winter.

In past few years the birds have reached Ingham early in August.

Bit later this year, but no easier to close in on.

They will, however, on occasion allow the old Camry to sneak up on them.

Just a familiar Japanese background, no doubt! :-)

But haven't had much luck in capturing picture of prey, which sometimes takes considerable effort to slurp up.  
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Day out for Night-Heron

There's a Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) breeding hotspot just 10kms away at Cattle Creek, but few show out in Tyto.

Bird above revealed itself today as I watched Royal Spoonbills, Intermediate and Great Egrets and a White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) feasting on life in a fast-drying creek pool.

Also active in Tyto lately, Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica).
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Brushing up on two cuckoos

On a post, but not railing at sunny shot of Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis) in Tyto today.

And for those interested in the differences between species, views of Fan-tailed 
and Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus).
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Sidling up on Brolgas - and a salty

Used the Camry hide to (s)idle up on Brolgas (Grus rubicunda) at roadside pool near Ingham today.

Immature bird even less alarmed than parent (top picture). Useless snippet: one of Australia's largest birds comes with one of shortest names.

Also looming large just down the highway, at Cattle Creek, two-metre-plus saltwater crocodile. Yesterday's picture. Today, very quick into water, possibly on to pattern in my appearances. 

Definitely non-threatening, pair of Olive-backed Sunbirds (Nectarinia jugularis) show typical cheek on tourists' campervan at Jourama Falls yesterday.

Also at Jourama, Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus).

Bird busy defending food tree from - among others - Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus). Both species more often found in higher forest - before Cyclone Yasi.   
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