Black-necked Stork lively on lagoon

Lively male Black-necked Stork highlight of another splosh across Rowes Bay Lagoon this morning. 

Little Egret flew off quickly when first approached, but tolerated much closer approach soon after.

Which seemed to give White-faced Heron confidence to stick around in same smallish pool.

Dollarbird not inclined to pose on a perch but in flying up and away made a shining departure.

 

Curlew overhead, crab underfoot, heron into prawn

Plenty of Bush Stone Curlews on the ground in Townsville (lately breeding in gardens close to my door) but less often caught overhead in daylight. Above, one of 36 or so put to flight as I sploshed  the other morning across Rowes Bay Lagoon, part of which backs onto my retirement village.

Even less common, mud crab - getting crabby about camera lens being thrust in its face on the same morning.

Rather better looking (unless you're into crabs) and always sounding joyously alive, Varied Honeyeater in pink climber on bank of Lower Mundy Creek, which feeds into the lagoon during super high tides or - as presently - when maintenance work requires the closing of the two large flood gates. 

Striated Herons regularly found along the creek. Not so often seen with fresh-caught prawn (or maybe shrimp?). Long mangrove tendril appears to have got caught up in heron's strike. Bird darted deep into the shadows to sort things out unseen.   

Sacre bleu! Blind shots not Sacred blur

Sacred Kingfishers showing out in seasonal return to Town Common Conservation Park these days. Pair active bathing around Payets Tower this morning triggered some forget-the-viewfinder point, shoot and hope. And, wonder of wonders, a half decent result. 

Later in the morning, Australian Hobby returned to snatching dragonflies from near surface of Melaleuca viewing area lagoon. It also repeated previously seen hostility toward passing immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle, driving it away from the area. No such aggression toward mature bird perched nearby. 

Uncommon visitors at front door, park

Didn't need to travel far for pictures of relatively uncommon visitors to Rowes Bay. Three Pied Butcherbirds turned up just a few metres from my retirement village studio front door the other day.

Quick grab for camera and managed to get pictures of young adult on grass and juvenile on wood chips. One or other of the birds has been serenading locals with ringing musical notes for months after first being seen nearby about six months ago. More typical habitat is less populated country not far west of Townsville.

Another less common sighting, female Pacific Emerald-Dove, in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park this week. Only my second in six years haunting the park.

Hobby launches into big bird, lunches on dragonfly

Australian Hobby gets right into the face of passing immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle in Townsville Town Common Conservation Park this morning. Bemused big bird betook itself away smartish.

Can't imagine the Hobby thought of the Sea-Eagle as competition for the dragonflies it was launching after and lunching upon. Shouldn't be crabby - because near none in the Common.

And when an intruding Brahminy Kite came along and launched itself into the water-lilied waters and flew off with talons full of weed and maybe obscured prey the Hobby took no action. But loads of action for the observer.

Female Dingo unsure about photo session

Female Dingo unsure she's looking her best for morning photo session on Townsville Town Common Conservation Park salt flat behind Pallarenda township the other morning. Eventually she trotted off to join more wary male mate. Welcome sight for me, perhaps less so for the many dogs and owners in Pallarenda. Howling from husky (the voice, not the breed) male should have triggered responses from domestic dogs yet in this case did not. As usual I couldn't resist the vocal challenge but was out-yowled decisively. Fewer Dingos being seen in the park these days after park rangers hazed cheekier animals away to more distant sections of the park for their own welfare. One or two were losing all fear of people, which can lead to danger for park visitors and for the Dingos.   

Leucistic Brush-Turkey stands out from the rest

Stepping out at Cape Pallarenda a day ago, the conservation park's well established but seldom so easily photographable leucistic Brush-Turkey. As striking as ever, probably female - based on lack of male markers: peaceable solitary behaviour, no mound building, never displaying extended yellow neck pouch.  Makes it unlikely there'll ever be an explosion of precocious whites scrambling from an active breeding mound in the park. Meantime, enjoy the one we've got!

Happy 2023 from Water Rabbits, Possums, Dragon

Couldn't find a 'Water Rabbit' for Chinese New Year 2023 so Possum pair located close to Town Common pool volunteered to wish you all a Happy New Year. And I've looked for first time at my birth dates and I'm a Dragon. Ego-enhancing! Modesty forbids . . . And, yes, I know Chinese New Year comes later on.

Need to look sharper as Kites whistle in

Whistling Kite all set to grab dead Tilapia from Townsville Town Common pool. I caught the action but got caught with slow settings because I'd been after Black Cormorants 'fishing' much closer to me and in shadow. So, after processing with Canon's DPP4 and sharpening to its full extent on 1-10 scale, the images, converted to.JPGs, got more sharpening in Gimp (which I'd use more often if the super freeware only had a worthy Raw converter. Fully sharpened picture above. Partially sharpened below, followed by extra-sharpened in sequence.

Darter stabs and nabs vacant title - Jabberoo!

Australasian Darter comes up from Freshwater pool in Townsville Town Common Park this week with Tilapia securely impaled. Taking no chances, bird took fish out of water (and out of my sight) to swallow the catch. Since Black-necked Storks are no longer Jabirus the name, or something like it, seems a good fit.

Same morning and not far away, Australian Pelican makes a diving splash and grab. Another Tilapia down the hatch. First time I've seen a Pelican make such a nonstop move and perhaps creating a risk of the bird somersaulting over a bill full of water. That would be a picture to treasure!