Pied Monarch spied mantid

Pied Monarch (Arses kaupi) with unlucky (and unidentified mantid) at Jourama Falls (25km south of Ingham).

Chased after foraging bird the other day using tripod as wobbly monopod. But bird mostly too quick!  

Also at Jourama, Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris) out of the shadows - for once - along Waterview Creek.

And a Spectacled Monarch (Symposiarchus trivirgatus) showing off rich colours.
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Arty brush-up for Brush-turkey

Something about the sensual fleshiness of this Australian Brush-turkey (Alectura lathami) image from Jourama Falls led to rare excursion into special filters.

Thus, an oil painting.

And a mystery artist.
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Cotton-pickin' Darter darts into Cotton pic!

Sneaking up for distant shot of Cotton Pygmy-goose pair (Nettapus coromandelianus) in Tyto yesterday unaware Australasian Darter (Anhinga novehollandiae) has intruded itself into the picture. May even have spooked the birds.

Not too many Cottons ever on Tyto waters. Even less often in the air on clear days, showing off their colour.
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Tucking into honeyeater points

Yellow-spotted Honeyeater (Meliphaga notata) at Jourama Falls (25km south of Ingham) last week. Strong yellow gape streak pointing to mid-earmark is diagnostic in distinguishing from slightly smaller Graceful HE (weaker, paler streak points to bottom of earmark). Both species can give similar 'tuck' calls.
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Pied Monarch flits about

Pied Monarch (Arses kaupi) flits here and there around me at Jourama Falls (25km south of Ingham). Partial compensation for Shining Flycatchers refusing to come in range several days after building nest above Waterview Creek. 

On the water front ...

Week's showers reflooded Tyto reedbeds and brought Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in yesterday: first small wader for many months.

Same reeds, less peaceful some days ago: Intermediate Egrets (Ardea intermedia) squabble over territory.

Intermediates have enviable strike rate, but no luck this time.

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) looks for slower-moving prey. 

And Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica) stands above the fray.
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Emerging thick and fast

Yesterday afternoon, helpless and getting a bit wet in Tyto drizzle.

This morning, warmer, 50 metres from 'nest'.

Bush Thick-knees (Burhinus grallarius) disappearing down south, but thriving in parts of North Queensland. No foxes here!
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Young Willie Wagtail tells tale

Juvenile Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) tells heart-warming tale. Picture nest alongside Tyto lookout. Two fledglings. Three boys walk up. Branch and nest wrenched from tree. Severe lecture. Boys slink off. Nest stuck back into tree fork. Wagtail parents accept change. Fledglings thrive. Mature. Parents immediately build new nest by old site. Three eggs. Wagtails rule!
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Flycatcher not the only one shining

Male Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) takes a break from building nest over water at Jourama Falls south of Ingham. 

Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) on tumbled stones near a Jourama ford.
  

In Tyto, immature Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) gleams in late morning sunshine.

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) close up.

Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela) glistens on coastal growth, Lucinda sandspit.   
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Starlings show their mettle

Tyto's lookout fig tree full of action lately. Male Eastern Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) continues trying to deny other birds a feed. (The motive may not be greed but an effort - as a great provider - to attract females.) 

But Metallic Starlings (Aplornis metallica) - in town for seasonal noisy social nesting - have proven unafraid of their larger fellow migrant. 

And Australasian Figbirds (Sphecotheres vielloti) won't be denied a share of the fruit.
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