Big mornings with two Mr Bigs

Big morning near Wallaman Falls featured leisurely walk down the road with resident Mr Big, Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius). Not much fallen tucker about the place so fruitful  stops proved rare. Three birds seen together lately so breeding seems probable. Good news for the endangered species.

Another Mr Big, Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis), the continent's heaviest flyer, pauses during a morning stroll at Mungalla Station, just east of Ingham. Four birds at present call the station's paddocks home.

Biggish bird feeding big appetite at Tyto Wetlands the other day, Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica). Though striking mostly at prey in mud and shallow water, the bird didn't neglect its greens. Something for parents of fussy feeders to consider given talk of people going insectivorous?  

Getting on board without ducks

Great  times lately at Mungalla Station near Ingham trying for pictures of seldom seen ducks. Without success. But there are always compensations, including close encounter with Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

And here's a Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus) paying one of its infrequent visits to the area.

Sometimes a passing Brolga (Grus rubicunda) gets close enough to fill the frame.

Not so often seen up  this way, Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides). So-so image, but immature bird shows species' long throat hackles. 

The ducks stay on the list.

Red-bellied Black Snake goes out on a limb

Doesn't look like much, just a Red-bellied Black Snake less than a metre up in a tree. But it's the first time I've ever seen the species rise from the ground like a tree snake and go out on a limb. Didn't last long. Almost fell off twice. Finally more or less crashed off in the clumsiest of dismounts. And any prey was long gone. Nature doesn't always reach the heights.

New focus on Black-faced Woodswallows

First outing with new Canon toy today and Black-faced Woodswallows (Artamus cinereus) pop into sharp hand-held focus even with nonstabilised 400mm lens.

Old toy, same lens, breezy fence post along Orient Station road a few days ago.

Uncommon morning starts with uncommon visitor

Uncommonly interesting time yesterday,  starting with uncommon visiting Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus). Species seldom seen in Tyto Wetlands. 

Young White-winged Triller (Lalage sueurii) proved uncommonly content to pose up close.

This Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica) uncommonly allowed me to walk alongside as it paused between stabbing at prey in the azolla to fluff up in the breeze.  

And female Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) put finishing touches to  a nest rather uncommonly dangling openly from pandanus.

To top it all off,  uncommonly long chats with two visiting birders. Thanks guys and birds for a great morning.

Freckled Duck marks a first

Took an hour or two to find at Mungalla Station today,  and distant picture nothing to boast about, but this Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) marks a first for me. Species seldom seen up this way. Six reported by others last weekend so it seems five have moved on.

Common bird, better picture: Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) in the Mungalla shallows two days ago.

Also much on show in and around the shallows, Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus).

And standing quietly in the grass nearby, Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella).

Casting light on Brown Falcon morphs

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) comes in dark and light morphs. Midrange bird above seen close to Orient Station road today.

Dark bird pictured on post recently. 

Light bird is often found on the ground near sugar cane. 

Jacana leads way in the daily grind

Immature Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) cocks a speculative eye at  blue  water lily in Tyto but even a young bird knows tasty items live just below the water's surface.  

At Taylors Beach, Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) steps away after probing for food with its sensitive bill.

At Jourama Falls, Australian Brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) takes a break from scratching up breakfast.

And at Mungalla Station, Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) pauses between flights for flying prey.

Welcome Swallow coming in at speed

Bit of action in stiff breeze at Mungalla Station today with foraging Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) returning to stick in the shallows.
Images arranged to appear as one sequence but compiled from three bursts. Nothing too technical. Though Canon 7D can be 'noisy' of interest to some may be properties of the five images: 3 @ 1/2000 ISO400; 1 @ 1/4000 ISO800; 1 @ 1/8000 ISO3200.

Bronze takes first place

Bronze often beats silver, or gold, in the bird world, as shown by this Little Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites minutillus) in Tyto today. A wee winner, I reckon.

Not quite so winning, but worth two looks, immature Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi) at Mungalla yesterday. Don't get many of the species up this way.