10-photo sequence added here: http://netrealm.org/public/Dave/2016Crunchy/index.htm
05/24/2016, 8:36 AM
Canon EOS 7D Mark II, 1/1000 sec, f/8, 400mm (EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM), ISO 1600 (auto), Exp comp +1/3
Dark brown upper parts. Complete breast band.
in the absence of a trunk or stone to lean on, a capybara may be an option;
I have observed these two individuals do this twice;
see also
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/nelson_wisnik/21258-the-friendly-capybara
Seen early morning outside my office front door, constricting a large gecko that, in turn, had a grip on the snake. Fortunately for the snake the gecko only had hold of a skin flap at the snake's throat, narrowly missing its trachea.
I placed an inverted basket over the pair so that the drama could play out undisturbed by foot traffic.
Later, when I removed the basket it was evident that the snake had prevailed. Only sign of the gecko was a lump in the snake.
This male was one of several dozen individuals on one of the main stems of a dying lacebark. I counted nine male/female pairs, some with a third individual (sometimes a noticeably smaller female, sometimes a male) which was usually chased off by the male of the pair. I got enough video to be able to confirm that the females appeared to be ovipositing. In addition, there were an indeterminate number of lone individuals roaming the trunk.
© Carlos de la Rosa (with permission)
female being pestered by a male at a male coyote bush
Brantford, ON
Female
Check out the aquatic insect scampering up its leg with malice intent!
I saw this behaviour twice when I was there. The darner would just burst into the air and easily shed it. Not a problem for this powerful dragon I shouldn't think...
A movement on the road caught my eye and on approaching was thinking of either something had caught a chameleon or it was injured and thrashing about in death throes. They were absolutely still after this flurry of movement, just eyes moving. One brief flurry again, followed by another long period of almost absolute motionless, another brief flurry and they parted. Never seen one as pitch black as the female, marking around the eyes standing out almost as clearly as under UV light. Both returned to more normal colours rapidly after parting, both removed by hand to the relative safety of near by shrubs. Total time actually witnessed 1 hour and 5 minutes, but I believe from others that they started mating some time before that.
Comments of selling price of a breeding pair shocking at R12 000 or there abouts!
Algodones Dunes, Imperial County, California
Genus: Batrachostomus
Species :mixtus Sharpe, 1892.
Common name : Bornean Frogmouth.
It is fomerly considered conspecific with B.poliolophus but lacks extensive white on underparts, male has a much darker crown and female more contrastingly rich rufous. Vocalizations yet to be analysed in depth. It is considered to be monotypic.
Not sure what is going on but this is the fourth birder that I know of who has had a phoebe perch on their binoculars or on their person at Commons Ford.
Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornata) ENDANGERED, Sinharaja Reserve, Sri Lanka ENDEMIC
Giant Otter
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher