Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

Nankeen Kestrel

Black Kites and Rainbow Bee Eaters have been obsessing me, (or should it be the other way around), this last few days.  Both are common birds here so it  would be a travesty  to leave for home and not get the very best photos that I could. I posted the best of my Bee Eaters "in flight" shot on my last entry but I took a picture on Saturday that I am really excited about.  I have a sequence of one stretching and showing the beautiful plumage. I love these birds!

 

The picture was taken in the morning, in my usual place, and on the way back home, at the side of the road, and in a built up area was a dead "road kill" rabbit.  It had been killed during the night and was very fresh. I was immediately excited because I could envisage the photo opportunity……. dead carcass and bird of prey feeding on it…….. always the way my mind works!  Later that morning, I returned to fasten the carcass to a tree with strong twine and the hope that the kites would find it.  They did!  I went back in the late afternoon and sure enough two kites were perched in the tree above, after having a little "pull" at it earlier on, evidence would suggest.  They were too shy to actually come down while I was there, but I returned first thing in the morning, certain that they would be raring to go. I hadn't reckoned on something "waltzing" off with it during the night……….. there was no sign of it whatsoever!  Dingo? I will never know, but something strong enough to break the twine and carry it off.  Gutted to say the least.

During yesterday afternoon I went to the beach with Jenny and I walked up to the World War 2 gun emplacement situated overlooking the headland at Palarenda.  It was windy and very pleasant and a Nankeen Kestrel was in it's element.  I watched it hunting for insects, and then when it did a stoop and disappeared I guessed correctly that it was on the rocks below. Anyone knowing me well would know that I am not as fit as I used to be so it was a job and a half to creep up on the bird, perched beautifully on the rocks with the blue surf as a backdrop. I took some cracking photos and really enjoyed watching it sat there so perfectly.

 

Jenny is now 100%,  thats's really good news and I am thrilled………. and so is she……… that she is now feeling well again. 

 

 

Bee Eaters in flight

I've been trying, over the last few mornings, to get some Bee Eaters in flight.  Every morning at dawn the local cemetery is alive with Bee Eaters and while I am here I really am trying to take advantage of the great opportunities with this beautiful species.  I have pretty much got their behaviour sorted now and am confident that I will get even better shots than this if the weather stays bright and sunny first thing in the morning. This picture above is not at all doctored, the light is really as bright as this first thing in the morning, golden yellow and  a golden yellow background of drying foliage.  I have taken literally hundreds of portraits of this species as well.

Yesterday morning back in the garden I watched a sacred Kingfisher perched on the line post....... can you imagine having these in the garden, what a stunner.

 

Black Kites and Paluma

We have been to Paluma twice before on this trip and that's because it is a very nice village at the top of a mountain with an interesting climb on the way up, and beautiful scenery to boot.  My main reason for going yesterday was to try and get some in-flight shots of the very exotic birds that live up there.   When we reached the summit it was much cooler than down below, and in the strongish wind, cloudy conditions and shade, almost cold enough for a long sleeve shirt!  At the pottery, Ken the potter told me that it had been quiet on his feeder this last few days, and he expressed some surprise at this. However, there were still Honeyeaters feeding on the sugar solution. I decided on a short walk at first because I wanted to try and see the Noisy  Pitta, a bird that is very territorial by all accounts and one had been seen on our first trip.  I couldn't believe my luck when I saw it in the very same place that it had been before.  I took the photos missed on my previous visits. They are a ground loving species that are described as preferring forest and jungle areas where they pick around the leaf litter.  Visually, they are an extremely pretty, and brightly plumaged bird with jades and yellow as well as a red brown head, short tail and longish legs.  When disturbed it didn't fly but scurried away to safety. 

Back at the Pottery feeder, I set up the gear and tried very hard for some in-flight shots but it was quiet and I found it hard.  Eventually, the "big-players", in the shape of a pair of glorious, amazing, fabulous and exotic Rifle Birds came in to my fruit offerings and I took some thrilling photos of the male who is in fact a Bird of Paradise.

If all the birds are like this in paradise then I am going to start behaving in the hope that I can get in!!!!!!!  The plumage is just totally iridescent and in a bird the size of a small dove, really impressive.  The females are totally different, being a combination of rich browns and lighter contrasting  tanny fawn on the breast.  Both have a long down curved black beak.  Perhaps the most impressive feature is the inside of the mouth that in both sexes is the colour of ripe mango!

 

I must tell you about yesterday morning.  At the nearby cemetery, good for birds as I have said previously, there was a Black Kite again sat on the top of a grave stone.  It was catching the light and really showing well.  I sat in the car and took some photos and waited for him (or her) to fly off because I knew that this would be a great photo opportunity, and it was… look at the results.

  This morning in the garden, (quite often there are more birds here than elsewhere), a Sacred Kingfisher sat on the clothes line post.  I took, at last some great close ups of yet another beautiful species.  I have now managed good portraits of both Kingfishers which I am very pleased with. My Kingfisher Gallery on PBase will certainly be enhanced now that I have 3 species of Kingfishers to show.

For family and friends…….. Jenny is getting better and the tablets are working well.  She has almost recovered and is back to her usual lovely self and as we speak normality returns! We are planning a quiet day on the beach today as part of Jenny's recovery, but Bee Eaters are working around the garden at the moment and it might be hard to tear myself away.  Just to give you a flavour of the scene here.  It's winter now, there are Bird Wing Butterflies flitting about, described by some as the worlds most beautiful butterfly.  They are large, very large and much bigger than a Blue Tit for example. We have Peaceful Doves in the garden and I can hear the Bee Eaters,  as well as a Brown Honeyeater, probably the most common bird in the garden, apart from the doves. Mynah birds are popping in and out and a Spangled Drongo is in the big tree at the end of the garden.  We quite often have Ibis  and a pretty little Flycather is usually around,  perhaps already a hint t of that paradise?

 

 

Since Friday

Last Friday Jenny and I visited Alligator Creek south of Townsville. This area so picturesque and attractive  that it's hard not to take it all for granted. But what a great day this turned out to be not only because of the pretty environment, a crystal clear creek with Eucalyptus trees around a lovely camp area, but wildlife galore including Wallbies Rock Wallabies, Turtles and of course, birds.   After an approach up a winding, dusty track we came upon our first Wallaby of the trip. He was casually licking the rocks just in front of us, we excitedly snapped away not realising what was to come! 

Now, Kookaburras are probably the most iconic Ausie bird. apart from Kylie of course…….. the ones around the camping area, all four of them were slightly more interesting than her and definitely more vocal!. It was a real treat to watch one, just feet away from me,  catch sight of a lizard on a tree at least 30 metres away, leave the perch and catch it with an audible bang as it snapped it's beak shut on it's prey…….. Kookaburra 1, lizard 0!

The Kookaburras seemed to enjoy having their picture taken and posed beautifully, repeatedly and in various photogenic poses.  Then, as the day almost turned to evening and the car park cleared, Rock Wallabies came in to crop the sweet short grasses around the picnic area, a real thrill. I took more than 100 photos in an effort to get a real special one. 

These animals were "dinky", about the size of a Jack Russell.  They were very appealing and attractive.  I didn't realise it before we went, but Alligator Creek is one of the few places in the area where you can be sure of seeing them, so a lucky find.

Saturday saw us deciding to explore the little beach towns just north of Townsville and we started at Bushland Beach which is a good area for wading birds and during the migration, home to thousands of familiar and not so familiar birds.  The tide was out when we arrived and in front was a vast expanse of sand and mud flats. A bit of exploring and I found a …… Plover as well as Gull Billed Tern (a first for me),  and an Eastern Curlew. We finished with Fish and chips and a glorious sunset overlooking the sea at Balgal Beach.  This is a really special place, laid back in Ausie style with a creek running in to the ocean past the Fishermen's Landing Pub.  Signs all around tell you to watch out for the local Saltwater Croc,  no luck……. he didn't put in an appearance for me! 

On Sunday after my usual dawn trip, this time to the local cemetery, I returned home to find my wife really ill.  She has got Vertigo caused by the pressure on the plane journey and was again physically sick for the second time.   Enough was enough and so we spent the morning and a bit of the afternoon finding, and visiting a doctor.  Can't speak highly enough of the service she received, she is now on medication and today feels a little bit better and not so sick.  The doctors visit cost just 50$, considering the extremely high cost of most things here, very reasonable.  By the way, the tablets cost £15, so don't moan about paying £7.50 at home for your prescription.  As is normal, literally half the price of Australia.  On the same theme, one coffee and a piece of cake just cost me slightly short of £7!  Paradise at a price!

 

This morning my quest for Bee Eaters continued and it's coming on nicely, but as I went in to the cemetery there was a magnificent Black Kite perched on the head stones and I took perhaps the best photographs of my life!

I must send my apologies for not updating the blog on a daily basis but not having my own internet connection is a real bind! Also with Jenny not feeling her best my priorities have been directed in another direction. For family and friends who know us well, Jenny is feeling just a little bit better today and hasn't been sick at least and managed to eat the supper that I prepared her......... those that know me really well will know that she must be poorly if I am resorting to domestics!!!!!!!

 

 

The Last few days.

Still finding it hard to find internet connection here that works quick enough to use the blog posting page, so I apologise. But here is what we have been doing since Tuesday.

Since my last Blog, the adventure has continued but not without some dramas.  My wife Jenny is unfortunately not well.  She has  a problem with the inner ear causing her to feel sea-sick and dizzy, (almost constantly) but it comes and goes a little..  Walking is when she is at her worse so that is cramping her style a little bit.  I lost………. and found my wallet, all within the space of two hours but not before I had cancelled my credit cards! 

But back to fun things.  Firstly, Red Tailed Black Cockatoos are amazing and they are at the moment coming right on to the beach strand to  feed on the nuts in the ornamental trees.  Very spectacular. They make an awful mess leaving broken seed cases all over the pavement and this is a give away to which trees they are currently finding attractive.

 

But equally as interesting are the various Honeyeater species, the most spectacular being the Blue Faced who were tussling and arguing with Rainbow Lorikeets over the ownership of some  nuts in the ornamental palms in the same area. 

 

Kingfishers are very often seen here, at the moment either Forest or Sacred.  One has a territory in the Beach-side park at Rowes Bay.  I have been trying to get some good close-ups for days and yesterday morning, probably got my best.  They are, at least from the back, quite like our Alcedo  from the UK except they have a white breast.  Their feeding behaviour is totally different, they feed on small lizards, butterflies, dragonflies and anything around that size that they can find.  They use the low branches of trees to look out from, pounce quickly and then carry the prey back to the same tree branch. 

 

Yesterday we went back up to Paluma to see what we could find.  This small village  is in a Wet Forest habitat at more than 2000 feet up a winding road that is 17 k up the hill.  When you get there the climate is cooler and the bird species different.  I have to  say that we were immediately side-tracked at the pottery……. we went to buy Jenny a nice souvenir……….!  The potter Len, kindly feeds the birds with sugar  water in one of his lovely pots, sitting on a bird table. When we arrived It was covered with Honeyeaters and Lorikeets.  I saw and photographed my first Scaly Breasted Lorikeet, smaller than the Rainbow, not so gaudy and a real beauty. As you can see, in spite of being totally wild they even came in to  feed as I held the pot!

 

The "In-Flight" shots that I took were really pleasing and I know that if we go back I will;l be able to get some more, and perhaps even better.

 

This is a Macleay's Honeyeater.

The Belgium Grarden Cemetery is very close to our house. This a massive area with thousands upon thousands of grave stones.  There is something very unpleasant about a grave yard in the tropics, or at least thats what I feel, but adjoining this massive area of land are some wet areas bordered by trees and an inticing hill which looks every bit like a piece Australian outback.  I am glad I explored this are because it has been very fruitful.  I have photographed White-throated Honeyeater, Brown-backed Honeyeater and Yellow Honeater, (all new species for me), as well as my first proper photos of Red Backed Wrens.  These were in their "eclipse" non breeding plumage, a shame because a breeding male in full colour is a spectacular bird. But the ones I saw, as you can see is a scruffy little bird with just a hint of  red showing through here and there.  

 

I am composing this Blog entry sat on the bench in the park, it's beautiful, sunny with a light cooling breeze. There is a peaceful Dove calling above us and several Australian Ibis are foraging just almost around our feet The Sacred Kingfisher was here a minute ago and a Great Bowerbird is interested in the bush behind us. Two Lorikeets have just noisily flown overhead.  

Just to say that this afternoon we saw Blue Winged Kookabura up very close and I managed some really nice photos.  They will be posted when I Blog next as well as our first sightings of Wallabies, two species and great shots from very close up even though they were truly wild animals.

 

 

Forest Kingfisher

At last my Blog is working properly again and I am able to post as before! Thank you Typepad. So whats been happening. Well, just amazing, amazing photo opportunities at every turn.  Take this morning for example, after my usual dawn birding, Jenny and I went for a walk along the Strand.....  the beach promenade by any other name.  I didn't take the camera because I wanted to do something with Jenny and let her know that it was her little trip.......... ~Big mistake,  there were Red Tailed Black Cockatoos feeding on the ornamental trees along the strand walk. Also seen was Spice Finches and they were so used to people that I was 3 feet from them, no camera though. Then as we ate lunch,  a Great Bowerbird hopped around my  feet in the outdoor restaurant, just like a pigeon, image that a Bower Bird!!!!!!!!

A bit about the bird above.  I had seen this bird on Sunday morning from the hide on the Town Common,  that day the weather was awful and insects were not flying and he was obviously hungry because he was even trying leaves in the vain hope that they were butterflies or something similar. So when I went back yesterday morning, just after dawn, I was so thrilled to see him in exactly the same place but now with a grasshopper.  He posed for me and I took this great shot...... a wow moment for the trip!  In the afternoon we went up to Hervey's Range, the mountains that border west of the City.  It was just so beautiful and,  what an unexpected thrill. We saw Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and we had our first real encounters with Wallabies.  We watched a Black Kite feeding on a road kill wallaby which was good fun, for me, but not sure Jenny enjoyed it quite so much. The highlight though was just so unexpected.  In the gift shop of the Heritage Tee Rooms I had bought a musical card, basically a picture of a Kookabura that plays a call when you open it up.  We were sat by the road side looking at the scenery and I was looking at my new purchase and listening to the call.  I wasn't the only one, a Kookabura heard it, answered and then came in to have a look at the intruder......... so amazing and unexpected, and wow, what a magnificent bird.

I cant leave this post without showing you this Sunbird. They are listed as common here, and I have seen
fleetingly, lots of times. So, at the hide again this early morning as I I entered I saw, immediately a young newly fledged baby being attended by it's parents.  It was a truly "National Geographic" moment and one I will treasure for years to come...... just look at the male, is that a bird or what?

Here is the youngster, as far as I know there is just one.

......... and being fed by the female.

This bird below, also took exception to the Kookabura card and came in to have a look and see what was making the noise. It's a Willy Wagtail I believe.

 

 

A Bee Eater from this morning.....click to see it full size.

A Forest Kingfisher from early this morning...... click on the picture to see it full size.

As usual, I was up at first light this morning. But what a difference today. The weather has turned nasty and now we have low cloud, mist and rain, sometimes heavy but mostly just a light drizzle. It's pretty much rained the whole day long with the occasional break but the sun is noticeable by it's absence. In spite of that, after a visit from the Rainbows coinciding with first light, it went quiet in the garden and I went out to the Town Common, a massive, (by UK standard), wetland area, close to town. It was still wet and overcast but the soft light made it easier to photograph and there were some great birds to see. What a wonderful place Townsville is. Pretty much on every outing there is something new to see, or a better opportunity than before. So it turned out today with a couple of lifetime firsts and a few old favourites. I travelled up the wet road, wet being better than the previous dust, and had sightings, as I went, of Wedge Tailed Eagle and Chestnut Breasted Finch. The latter being a species that I have kept at home and it was simply brilliant to see them in the wild (again)……. I have previously seen them in Tahiti where they have been introduced, and several other places on my travels but I can't be specific. My target species was going to be Forest Kingfisher, I have pictures but not good close ups…….. until today that is. After a few K's up the dirt track I caught sight of a bedraggled and sad looking Kingfisher on the fence line, I drove closer and stopped the car . I took photos, now reasonably close and was pleased to get better shots than previously. Then I bumped in to a pair of Spur Winged PLover with a young chick in tow. A cute little thing, however I was wary of the parents because I have heard that they use the wing spurs to attack possible predators and will think nothing, apparently, of swooping down on humans that they perceive as a threat, sometimes causing damage with their spurs. I didn't want to add cuts from a Spur Winged Plover to my list of outdoor injuries so i kept the car door shut.
At the Freshwater Hide there was, at first not a lot to see but as is usual here, I was quickly entertained by another Forest Kingfisher that was seemingly struggling to find htis first meals of the day. It even tried out a leaf and then made a couple of dives in to the pool which apparently is rare behaviour for woodland Kingfishers. Anyway, great photo opps. We had a quick visit from a Pied Cormorant, my first of the trip and the little cormorant from the previous evening joined me to fish, simply brilliant. I decided to check out the other hide, a 400 m walk, and I am really glad that I made the effort. What birds!
I walked with a Bush Turkey most of the way, no, not a name for the locals but a species of megapod bird, common and almost tame. As I got to the hide there was a small flock of finches around the hide and I took photos immediately. This was a small family group of Crimson Finches, an almost ridiculously pretty and tiny finch which must weigh around 6 or 7 grams and is about 4 inches long including tail, with bright red plumage. They were feeding on the ripening seeds and didn't even bend the grass stems as they crept up to the seeding heads. At first I was just seeing immature birds that were dull brown with just hints of red showing through, but then an adult gave me a treat by popping in to full view literally feet in front of me. Perhaps the photo of the trip so far, certainly one that I will cherish for a lifetime. There were more Bee Eaters and a Pied Cormorant gave me photo opportunity, then suddenly, again on the seeding grass but this time feeding on sunsets, was an Australian Reed Warbler which looked so like the European variety. As I type this at dusk, Barking Owls have just started to call, there are two close by, "barking" to each other…. and finally it's stopped raining, well almost!

A male Zebra Finch

A pair of Zebra Finch

Still to confirm ID but I suspect this to be a Little Eagle. I you know better can you let me Know.

I am having a problem with posting at the moment...... so frustrating. Pictures are small I know. If you want to see them bigger......... and why wouldn't you.. then click on them and they will open in a bigger window.

Internet access is becoming difficult, hence my lack of daily updates. Yesterday for example, I spent an hour "blogging" only then to fail to send because of the connection problems, and to make matters worse, I lost the lot!
What I was hoping to post was the story of Eagles and Kites. I can't imagine a day when I could have photographed 4 species of Kite and 2 Eagle species, but that was yesterdays feast! We went to a place called the Ross River Dam, in a way a bit disappointing, apart from the birds of prey, it didn't live up to expectations and wasn't quite as nice as other places that we have been to. However the birds of prey, well, they are just unbelievably common. I would say without exaggeration, that Birds of Prey are more plentiful and easier seen than Sea Gulls! Black Kites are particularly plentiful, but Brahminy Kites, a beautiful species, can be seen regularly as well. Yesterday we drove up a dusty farm road past Mango plantations, and as we approached an area where the grass had recently been mown, there were at least a dozen birds of prey either on the grass or circling above. We photographed Black Kites, Whistling Kites and Square Tailed Kites, either circling above or settled on the ground. There was also this interesting bird which I am guessing was a Little Eagle. THe light proved to be difficult but I did the best I could to get shots. Then, by the reservoir and the Dam wall, I caught sight of a White Bellied Sea Eagle………. yes, can you imagine that? After seeing two in flight, I found one resting at the top of a tree and it allowed me to get really close as I took photos. It peered down at me with the usual disdain that birds like this appear to have. A really impressive and spectacular bird…….. perhaps the bird of a lifetime, or was that the Cassowary? A drive up the road at the side of the dam wall gave us really good views of a pair of Australian Bustard, obviously a "lifer" for me and my first ever Bustard species.
In the morning, in the park where the beach reaches up to the grass, I watched the breeding pair of Zebra Finches that we had seen last week. Today though, I got a couple of great photographs. I have kept Zebras in captivity at home for years and it was a thrill to see them in the wild where they should be, even though they are probably the most commonly kept bird in captivity. It was interesting to see that they were hard to approach and flew up to safety when they were aware of me.
This morning (Saturday), we awoke to our first dull morning since we arrived. In fact the sun has been out every minute of every day so far. but today, it's different, overcast and cool but still beautiful. The birds are acting differently and an Australian Ibis was perched in a tree in the garden and I watched him preening as I ate breakfast. Then suddenly we had a great little bird just feet from the balcony, a female Leaden Flycatcher. The Rainbows came in to the Mimosa again and gave me a spectacular show for the 4th morning in a row.

Rainbows at dawn

Just had to post this piccy as soon as I could.  It was taken just after dawn this morning. From the study room there is a clear view of this flowering mimosa tree which in it's self is truly spectacular. I knew that Rainbow Lorikeets were aware of it and I was up at the first hint of dawn to sit and wait. The first to arrive however was this Friarbird (below), a weird but spectacular bird, eating the nectar just like the Rainbows.

I have 30 or 40 photos like this, and just included these at random, can you imagine sitting there on an easy chair, camera on tripod, watching these noisy, comical beauties flying in and climbing all over the plant, less than  15 feet way.  It doesn't get better.  Later on, but still before breakfast I went to a little park only a minute from the house and yet, still on the beach. Yesterday I had seen a Great Bowerbird carrying to his bower, this morning I saw him dancing around but still haven't found the actual bower, must be somewhere near. It is a stunning bird, bigger than a Jackdaw but it hops around powerfully. 

 

Black Kites and much more

BLACK KITE

Since I blogged yesterday, so much has happened.  I had begun to associate a scream of fright by Jenny as an exciting few minutes, it means that she has seen something she doesn't like the look of, or even worse has decided to jump on her, and that means something exciting to see!  So it turned out to be yesterday, but in the end, she got her own back!  Tree Frogs……….. who would have thought they could be such good fun and a source of such frights as well.  So far on the trip, we have encountered 3 different species but all in the house.  I will be able to give you a species list once I have managed more research but in the meantime, a short……. very short description, will have to do.  There is a basically, a large green frog that is like a pet at the house and he doesn't……… (as I write, I hear my first kookaburra)…….. enter but stays out around the front door balcony. He has been seen most evenings. Then, in the house, and that can mean anywhere, are brown tree frogs, so far seen in the bathroom, on the bookcase and in the wardrobe.  They are quick and agile and hard to catch.

BROWN TREE FROG ON THE BOOK SHELF

THE OFFENDING TREE FROG!

Yesterday before the frogfest, I had quite a lot of fun photographing a Black Kite in flight as you can see above.   I got hold of some scraps of meat from the butchers and have been baiting one that I saw close to town.  In fact, as I write this at the moment, I am waiting for him to repeat his performance, but today I have rigged up my remote infra-red trigger to catch him as he swoops in to pick up the offerings.  So far, just Silver Gulls, but I am hoping for his return sometime soon…. should be quite a shot!

This morning, very soon after dawn, there was a small flock of Rainbow lorikeets feeding on the wispy flowers of bottle brush (or similar)…….. (the Kite is back, but no interest in the food yet). 

RAINBOW LORIKEET

I almost forgot to mention, Black Cockatoos are a spectacular bird, much bigger than the crows and Rooks in the UK.  When I saw my first yesterday they took me surprise, their calls were not particularly harsh and I was expecting them to be a small flock of Crows as they flew in to feed on a Sea Grape by the edge of the beach.  I had my camera set up ready for flight shots of the Kite so I was thrilled to get these amazing birds as they nonchalantly , almost glided in.

As this morning progressed, we had a nice visitor as we sat and ate breakfast on the balcony. A lovely Gould's Shining Cuckoo came on to a perch as close to the house as it could get.  really stunning. Then out by the beach, late morning I photographed Bower Birds, I will post their photos tomorrow...... please check back.  

If you are reading the blog and are related to Jenny and I, then hello! Email us and send pics of the grandchildren! Missing you already! 

 

Cassowary (Northern Queensland)

Apologies for no daily update to the Blog, unfortunately we don't have internet access.  The nearby MacDonalds has Wifi so I am going to have to swallow my pride or something similar and patronise one of my most despised institutions.  If you are wanting to contact me in any way, then please email as normal and eventually we will get back to you. We want to hear from you!

Well, what a fabulous place Northern Queensland is.  It is like living in a zoo, animals everywhere, magnificent scenery and lonely beaches just yards from town, mountains, rain forests and green green grass! It's like Florida with scenery and greenery, but of course deserted in comparison. There are no drawbacks except beer is £30 + for a case and as an example a chocolate bar costs nearly £3 and a bunch of bananas is almost too expensive to even contemplate…….. 

We share the house with Tree Frogs……. yes literally and it was an excitement for Jenny to discover one on the wardrobe door as she hung her clothes and apparently the one that jumped in to the sink while she was doing her hair made her jump too. They are small Brown Tree Frogs, but the "pet" Green Tree Frog that lives with us on the balcony is 4 times the size, bright green and has a mouth as big as mine…… well almost , but you get the picture. He just sits and stares at you.

There are butterflies as big as saucers, gliding too and fro constantly, these are bird-wing butterflies and are black with vibrant iridescent blues and greens that catch the light as they flutter by.  All this to a backdrop of exotic bird calls that mesmerise me, all of a sudden you will catch a glimpse of yet another species that is  new  to me. Zebra Finches live on the grass verges outside the house and we have seen them almost every time we have walked by.

On Sunday we had our first glimpse of a Kingfisher species.  The Forest Kingfisher is just one of the Australian Kingfishers that includes the Kookabura (haven't seen one yet surprisingly). barking owls are fascinating, a large owl specie with a bark like a Jack Russell Terrier! 

Amazingly, yesterday we went on a trip to Paluma with the Townsville Bird Group.  This is a "town" at the top of a hill 100k away.  It is in the Rain Forest and therefore  hosts lots of species which you don't get close to town here. Without listing everything we saw and photographed, the Victorias Rifle Bird, a species of Bird of Paradise was really special and, as you can see from the photographs, just amazing in every way.

This is a beautiful male.  He was coming down to fruit left out by a bird loving home owner. The Rifle Birds are members of the Bird of Paradise Family and you can see the "gorget" on the throat which he probably uses to display to his female, (pictured below). This species is very Dimorphic, the males and females being totally different.

 

Honeyeaters are a "group" of nectar and fruit eating birds with 20 species or more that are really common, beautiful and great to photograph. (We have them in the garden with us now as I write). This is  Macleay's Honeyeater.

 all of this was overshadowed by a bird that you could only dream of finding. A Cassowary!  The brother of one of the Townsville Bird Group worked on a Pineapple Farm, in it's self a fascinating place. Apparently the bird, a youngster, had become accustomed to the sound of vehicles close to the tracks that bordered the fields.  It had learned that the sound of a vehicle might mean a free offering of fruit.  We reached our destination a few hundred yards up a dirt track and over a river which we crossed in the 4x4's with some difficulty.  We stopped the car and climbed out, and there wandering in to view, right on cue was a Cassowary……. even the resident club members were excited and began to make sure that I knew how lucky I was, of course…….. I did……. probably the bird sighting of a lifetime!