Pair well worth storking about

Loving pair of Black-necked Stork (akaJabiru Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) drawing attention at Cattle Creek, noted flood point passing under the Bruce Highway just south of Ingham.

Proud parents of two flighty youngsters, the adult pair bond with short dances when coming together after spending time apart fishing, or just standing around.

Female (yellow eye) smaller than her mate.

But has taken more fish when I've been watching.

Not that he's impressed by her catches. 

Phallus palace feast for dull days

Nothing like an aphrodisiac to brighten a dull, rainy day, so they tell me. And it's a dull rainy day in Ingham, so feast your eyes and whatever other senses you like on this phallus palace at Broadwater Forest Park:  stinkhorn mushroom (Dictyophora indusiata). Read all about its delights at:aphro

Finding birds at the double

Caught up with this Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) by the roadside the other day.

Found myself under observation before spell was broken and bird zig-zagged off

Also got two characteristic views of White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa), at Jourama Falls yesterday.

And this Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) at Wallaman Falls uncharacteristically paused long enough for another lucky double. 

Hiding away in the rainforest

Rainforest  offers enticing shelter from streaming summer rays, but shrouds  most of its birds. Spent 10 minutes up Paluma Dam way  yesterday begging this Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons) to sit still. 

During same wander along the dam road, came upon Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa). Didn't seem to like flash, so pumped up ISO. Result: noisy picture of quiet bird.

Unlike this Northern Fantail (Rhipidura rufiventris), which 'chooff-chooffs'  about the Jourama Falls forest most mornings.

Even quieter most days, Grey-headed Robin (Heteromyias cinereifrons). Another of the birds hiding away in the Paluma gloom.

Almost always to be found somewhere in tropical rainforest, Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito). As often the case, bonus closeup of tree trunk, near Wallaman Falls. 

So too with female White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), also  close to the falls. If only more species would take to marching up well-lit trunks, though the treecreeper isn't a rainforest specialist.

Nature's nursery rhyme

Little Miss Muff-it little knew how tough it

would be at Jourama today.

Along came a Pompilid, said Here's looking at you, kid,

and got her in the wasp family way.

Female spider wasps paralyse spiders and store them in burrows, with one wasp egg. 

More Zittings in the mornings

One or two more Zitting Cisticolas (Cisticola juncidis) lining up on Orient Station fences when the sun shines these days.

Not often they look quite so charming as Mr Fluffy yesterday.

And still greatly outnumbered by scores of Golden-headed Cisticolas (Cisticola exilis).

Budgies building at the double

The small flock of Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) along Orient Station road grows exponentially: first 10, then 20, 40, and this week 80+.  

And still no closer to any picture doing their beauty proud. 

If only there were similar numbers of Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata).

Tantalising glimpses of paradise

Don't see many Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfishers (Tanysiptera sylvia) near Ingham. Caught this seasonal migrant deep in creek forest at Jourama Falls yesterday. Long white tail streamers just visible. Quick glimpse and no picture today. 

What's needed is for the bird to sit up nicely like this Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) at Dungeness recently.

After that there's the little matter of processing the image to get the best out of it. Or not such a little matter ...

Pickings picnic on wet grass

Uncommon to find Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) foraging on grass. But super high tide pushing flooding Herbert River sideways from the Hinchinbrook Channel at  Dungeness the other day meant bird's usual pickings were being washed into picnic area.  

Much more at home on grass, though more often seen deep in forest shadow, Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) bejewels the camp ground in morning light after overnight rain at Jourama Falls.  

No surprise seeing Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) surrounded by grass, in seasonal pool beside the highway at Ingham. Flood flushes mean food for all.  

Of peppermints in a pig's eye

Up Wallaman Falls way and scouting for Cassowary yesterday when along trots Miss Piggy. Gidday, says I. How're goin'? Grunt, says she. Grunt, grunt. Yeah, well, says I, would you like a peppermint? Grunt. grunt. Snap, crackle, chomp, chomp, chomp. You're supposed to suck them, says I.  Grunt, grunt. See you, says I. Grunt, grunt, grunt ... and off she trottered.

Today, after some mud-bashing at the end of the Orient Station road, found juvenile Mangrove Robin (Peneonanthe pulverulenta) plaintively 'pee pee peeping' at parents.  - and refusing my offer of a peppermint.

No wonder there are more feral pigs than Mangrove Robins.