Counting Black-throated Finches - they're counting of us

The annual Black-throated Finch (Southern subspecies) survey is coming up on October 21-22 at sites around Townsville. Waterholes will be watched from 6-9am on Saturday and Sunday. How many BTFSs will be counted? Chances are similar numbers to last year. Possibly slightly fewer, maybe many fewer. The historical trend is down, down, down. But, but, but . . . 

There are signs of things coming together in search of increases in BTFS numbers. They include:

An 11-hectare trial area in the Ross Dam catchment to undergo reshaping, weed removal (some carbon capture), selected grass and tree planting. 

Funding on offer for selective flora control and grass and tree planting, contingent on a 500-hectare offset in the catchment.

Enthusiasm for greater BTFS coordination between Queensland Parks and Wildlife and Townsville City Council being expressed at several levels.

Expansion of an existing offset with noteworthy BTFS activity reported privately.

On a smaller scale, encouraging reports of good numbers of BTFSs in outlying spots dotted about the Bohle Plains. 

And some encouraging positivity for my pet grass, Chionachne cyathapoda, which I argue is a corner stone for successful revegetation and consequent species increase, of paramount importance for not just BTFSs but for other birds, including the Purple-crowned Fairywren in the Northern Territory. 

Elsewhere, miner Bravus earlier this year reported 449 BTFSs banded by its eco consultancy in the other major stronghold of the species, the Galilee Basin. 

Am I slighting those in PhD land? Nope, they've done the hard yards. Cheers to the Black-throated Finch Recovery Team and all the willing volunteers out there this weekend. You're counting the birds and they're counting on all of us! 

  

 

 

Worst pictures ever . . . but this Lapwing's a lifer!

The worst pictures ever in about 16 years of blogging but who cares when it's a lifer. Just checked back in crumbling edition of Slater's guide and find - as I suspected - that Banded Lapwing seen yesterday was a first for me. 

The inside back page of the Field Guide to Australian Birds bought well used at an op shop in 2002 shows in fading pencil on tattered soft cover 511 species, a total seen in my almost clueless early years of birding. No pencil mark against Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor).

Making sighting even more special, the milestone bird is well north of its usual range. Not so uncommonly, my sighting resulted from combined efforts of other birders. So often the case! Also of note, that 511 is a considerably greater figure than my total of species seen since I stopped driving long distances and settled down in Ingham and latterly Townsville in 2004. 

Now the challenge is ... better pictures! Another lifer. It's what we live for.

Next day (01/10/23). Meant sploshing through bit of deep mud, but below the reward for getting closer to desired picture quality. 

Raven leads best of wetland morning

Three birds, three very different stories from Rowes Bay Sustainability Wetlands in Townsville this morning.

First up, Australian Raven, one of two challenging the presence of recently arrived Channel-billed Cuckoos from across Torres Strait (along with Koels and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons).

Second, female Black-necked Stork, making imposing statement atop vines decorating dead acacia.

Third, Forest Kingfisher, the only one of the five seen through the morning posing near perfectly.

Bonus: an even better look at Forest Kingfisher, on nearby branch last week.   

Cockatoo laps up water going to waste

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos can be clever but not-so-clever human left this supposedly self-closing tap slightly open in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park this week. Despite BOM's reluctance to declare El Nino upon us signs are we'll regret wasting water this year and well into 2024. Did I close tap? Yes. Yes. And good to see some in Australia catching on to moves abroad to let grass brown off. Save water. And fuel for mowers. Win-win.    

Leucistic heron lightens up wetland viewing area

No knowing how long leucistic (later edit: or hybrid of some sort; maybe heron/egret) White-faced Heron will hang around Pandanus viewing area in the Town Common Conservation Park after it popped up late last week so here's five looks at the lightly coloured bird (usually darkish grey apart from white face), which has drawn no negative response from other herons and egrets in the large seasonal wetland. 

Do I ever get tired of taking Little Kingfisher pictures? No. No. No. No. No.

 

And big 'Hi!' to rare faithful follower, Teo. 

Nothing stick-in-the-mud about these birds

Call them slick or quick in the mud, just don't call them stick-in-the-mud. Some of the lively birds looking good as water evaporates in Townsville Common Conservation Park lately:

Comb-crested Jacana slurps up a gelatinous treat (a favourite with young Magpie Geese also).

Magpie-Lark splits time between bathing and breakfasting.

White-browed Crake ventures out from safety of bulrushes in search of grub.

Buff-banded Rail forages below tower hide (ignoring crowd of chatty birders above it).

  

Blue-faced really enjoys juicy greens

Blue-faced Honeyeater doesn't need telling twice to eat its greens. Insect in the Town Common, on the other hand,  guilty of an existential blue in being seen by a hungry bird. Mantid or katydid? Bird didn't care. I'm not sure.

Eight standouts for July in the Common

Eight birds stand out from the rest caught by the camera in July: Brown Falcon, Spangled Drongo, Dusky Moorhen, Golden-headed Cisticola, Grey Fantail, Magpie Goose, Nankeen Kestrel, Willie Wagtail. Here's hoping for even better in August - and an end to rain so we get more migratory species dropping in later in the year. 

Little Kingfisher - small wonder, big favourite

All birds are special but some more so than others. In Australia the second smallest kingfisher in the world looms large for many. Small wonder as it is indeed a small wonder. Wonderful to watch in action. Wonderful to watch at rest. So, lots of my latest session (yesterday, 15/07/23) with a Little Kingfisher. A few do it some justice, others less so. Enjoy them all anyway. Little wonders don't come along every day, even in my happy place, the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park.