John Cook 🇦🇺🧑🏼‍🦽‍➡️🚲
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harryheadbanger.bsky.social
John Cook 🇦🇺🧑🏼‍🦽‍➡️🚲
@harryheadbanger.bsky.social
480 followers 350 following 490 posts
Retired nurse, musician, motorcyclist, hobby photographer, horticulture, amateur naturalist,all photographs are my own.
Townsville/Gurambilbarra.
Bindal and Wulgurukaba land
🚫Crypto🚫DMs
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harryheadbanger.bsky.social
The Australian black necked stork I think fits the description.
It was out in the gully instructing an excavator on when it could move, any finds were inspected, perhaps eaten then it would step back and the excavation could continue.

#birdoftheday
#longlegsandneck
#birds
#ausbirds
Long red legs and a black head and neck that reflects back a range of colours, a white body and black wings, a large bird, walking to the left in mud, greenery in the background . A black necked stork to the left of an excavator in a muddy but pleasant gully
December 19, 2025 at 8:09 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I don’t know what this is, it is a very small spider, it was underneath a brown leaf, the area has a lot of orb spiders.
North Queensland.
#entomology
#spiders
#Auswildlife
A tiny little spider hiding upside down, facing to the left, under a brown leaf, the abdomen looks hairy light tan with a yellow jagged stripe along the sides, dark brown underneath.
December 15, 2025 at 12:13 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
Whippets, I dog sit them often, I have visits in between, I never knew much about this breed before, they are perfect companions for me.
December 12, 2025 at 1:11 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I saw an adult masked lapwing supervising two chicks, both darting about on the grass, the adult supervising beat up a crow, and chased it away.
The tree above had an occupied great bowerbirds nest.
An excellent day here.
North Queensland
#birds
#australianbirds
#australianwildlife
#wildlife
A masked lapwing chick, it has fluffy down, a cream body with brown wings and cap, a black stripe under the cap including the black eyes A grey beak and legs Standing in green grass. An adult masked lapwing with a chick to the left, standing in green grass, the adult had a yellow mask and dark eyes, a white body and grey brown wings. Red legs, they decent their young fiercely, the are superb flyers, many people are afraid of them but reports of injury seem non existent, I have stopped after getting their attention, not on purpose, standing still they come close to the face but pull up just before contact would be made, they do have a scary looking spike on the leading edge of the bend in the wings, none visible in this image. A fluffy masked lapwing chick looking for insects in the leaf litter An adult Masked lapwing, common names, plover, masked plover, ack ack bird, murder plover. They nest on the ground out in the open, sporting fields open parkland.
November 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I spotted a Great Bowerbird nest yesterday I’m hoping I’m here long enough to observe progress, a crow was watching but a masked lapwing parent that was under the tree with chicks beat it up.
I have seen many bowers but this is my first nest.
North Queensland
#birds
#ausbirds
#wildlife
#photigraphy
A great bowerbird on a nest, it was calling, possibly warning as a crow was observing closely. The bird has its head and neck visible, light grey underside and darker grey top, its mouth is open, calling, yellow inner mouth, black eyes. In a tree branch fork there is a nest of twigs, light grey, green leaves to the left and right, thinner in the background against a very light sky The same location and angle but the bird is calmer, there is a dark stripe running back from the eye
November 19, 2025 at 4:32 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I’m back in the garden taking pictures with my crew, I wondered before the first visit how I could look after my friends mob of whippets, when I struggle to look after myself, they are so well trained I have little to do.
If I’m photographing stuff the become very interested, stimulated
#whippets
Three whippets , facing slightly to the right, and looking down to the green grass centre is brindle, right is white as is the dog behind them, there is a grey fence in the background and green trees behind, dappled sunlight. My camera crew, I moved so they thought I spotted something. Two white whippets facing to the left, green grass, a bit of blue walking frame on the left, black tripod leg at the right, semi shade dappled light. When you are close to the ground the whippets like to get close in, centre is a black nose attached to a white whippet, grey fence in the background, green foliage to the left rear with a blue walking frame to the right
November 18, 2025 at 2:32 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
A Little red tree frog, desert tree frog under the light at night, one on the steps and one in the bathroom, it’s about the size of my fingernail.
North Queensland.
#frogs
#ausfrog
A small frog on a green surface with a red brown background to the right, a cream pole and black to the left. The frog is facing to the left, it has a golden flecked back, a dark stripe running under the eyes from snout to hind leg, underneath is a silvery white. The eye has a golden upper half and a bark lower half. Nighttime, picture taken with an iPad Another little red tree frog on a wall, of light mint green even smaller, and facing up. The same colouration as the previous frog, golden flecked back, a dark stripe running under the eyes from snout to hind leg, underneath is a silvery white underside.
November 17, 2025 at 11:13 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I’m back to one of my favourite gardens for a couple of weeks, I’m there a couple of times a year.
Previously I came across this little frog, a spotted mash frog?
Because of my disability I’m close to the ground or laying down weeding.
North Queensland.
It is marshy ground
#frogs
#ausfrog
#garden
A small comoflage grey frog, looking to the right with some curled bark behind it in a grey bark mulch. The colouration is patches and spots of darker grey and black on a lighter grey background. The frog has eyes that protrude, very light with a golden sheen, the pupil is black. The same spotted marsh frog? facing to the left, showing off the camouflage pattern, it is on grey bark mulch garden bed.
November 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
It’s mango falling time in North Queensland, mango madness, it gets very hot and humid, time for the Great bower birds to feast.
Ether built, or a plant modified by the male bird, like a stand of dianella, the bowers face the opening north, display south.
#birds
#ausbird
#photography
A great bower bird in dappled light on a wooden beam looking slightly to the right it has a light dappled grey body and head darker grey brown dappled wings, black eyes and beak and light grey feet. Background of green leaves, Melicope elleryana . A great bower bird enjoying a mango. These birds were quite used to me, not tame but unconcerned by my presence
November 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
After 35 years of shift work and being on call, the balance of coffee to blood ratio takes some care and precision to maintain.
I would have ridden in the rain for coffee.
A dark green stone mortar and pestle on the left, a stainless steel Italian grain grinder in the right, a paved path and sunlight on grass in the background.
November 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
A small flock of whistling ducks noisily following a single pacific black duck, like chicks follow a parent, the pacific black duck kept trying to hide from them, it eventually hid in a bush.
North Queensland
#birds
#birdoftheday
#flocks
#ausbird
#photography
A flock of very noisy plumed whistling ducks following a pacific black duck, the eight plumed whistling ducks are on the left walking to the right, the pacific black duck is on the right and facing right, there is green grass in the foreground, a small stream with reflections of the ducks on a grey brown clay bank with more green plants in the background.
October 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
Melicope elleryana - pink euodia, with a Rainbow lorikeet feeding, I planted it knowing it’s rewards, you can spend all day and night watching the visitors, until days ago, it’s now gone, a sterile environment, I had calculated shade now a hot roof.
North Queensland.
#birds
#ausbird
#photography
A rainbow lorikeet, leaning forward, down and to the right, orange beak, red eyes brilliant blue head, light green nape, darker green back, orange and yellow breast and abdomen in a bright green large leafed tree with light grey bark. Large clusters of pink and white flowers with green stems. North Queensland. Nikon Coolpix B500 iso 200, eBay tripod.
October 18, 2025 at 2:42 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
My friend spotted this little sacred kingfisher, it kept diving and hiding, an invitation for me to keep trying to get a clear look.
My camera works well but in a limited range.
I can only use light weight gear, with a light tripod.
North Queensland.
Anderson Gardens.
#birds
#ausbirds
A sacred kingfisher in tangled branches, the body points to the right, and away, the head and long black bill to the left. There is a pale blue cap with a black line though the eye going to the back of the head, the rest of the head is white, there are pale blue wings and the body is white to cream to soft yellow. Blurred greenery in the background.
October 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
More bush stone-curlew stuff, we shared the same space for decades.
A friend who does stuff, horticulture, yard work, wildlife told me he called them cranky sticks, hard to spot and very easy to annoy by getting too close, they are wonderfull creatures.

#birds #Ausbirds
#photography
A bush stone-curlew on a nest amongst a mat of frangipani sticks and leaves, looking left and down while laying flat. Big yellow eyes and a bark bill, a white face and grey head , grey back and variegated brown wings. An adult curlew facing right, laying flat as are two chicks in the foreground, the adult has a white face with a grey stipe over and around the yellow eye, the body is grey brown in dappled light. The chicks are white with black stripes and a black stripe over their eyes, leaf litter floor, similar brown colouration. A cranky stick ( bush stone-curlew, is not actually a curlew) if disturbed strained hissing sounds moving forward and flapping once close. Large light grey with darker edging black at the tips, variegated brown and white chest, dark stripes over the yellow eyes and a grey cap, I only wanted to hang the washing out, we both made compromises .
October 6, 2025 at 1:38 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I had an offer to help me over to the park and navigate the wheelchair obstacles, it made for an excellent day.
One bird was very active, the Torresian crow, there were a few hopping in amongst the black cockatoos and magpie geese, one bird stood out.

#birds
#Ausbirds
#photography
A Torresian Crow, facing left, all black except the slightly blue tinted white eye, it’s standing on a wire and metal pump inlet cover, brown water is moving behind from the pump, tinted gold by the late afternoon sun A Torresian crow on the left, moving to the right towards three red tailed black cockatoos, there is a hint of red under the tail of the second bird from the left, they seemed to tolerate each other after a short wing flapping at the crow.
October 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I saw a magpie and said, hey bird, it ran over to me, I had a packet of oats open so he grabbed a couple, it’s tame, not so good, and used to being fed, beak, feathers and legs look ok’ looking for calcium deficiency, bread will kill them, it was poking around for grubs so that’s good.
An Australian magpie, facing camera, steel blue bill with a black tip, dark eyes and black feathers with a white nape, so male, it came to me and I offered it some oats I was cooking with, their song is extraordinary, 4 octaves and melodic, one if the best. They will mug strangers during breeding season.
October 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I opened up my bass case, not used for way too long, feathers and body glitter fell out, it must have been a good gig.
Danalectro bass, heavy binding for hand to hand contact, flat wound strings, upgraded tuning pegs and adjustable bridge. It’s a very old picture.
September 21, 2025 at 1:22 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
Finally today I spotted the Torresian imperial pigeons, I have heard them for some time but not seen them, they migrate from New Guinea to reproduce, so they are looking for nesting spots, hopefully I can figure out where.
North Queensland
#birds
#ausbird
Two Torresian imperial pigeons both white with dark wing lines and tail, one on the right is facing away, one on the left facing to the left, on a branch with a blue sky background. Port quality photograph showing the black wing outer edge of a Torresian imperial pigeon. They will make a nest out of sticks, often in a palm tree.
September 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
Bush stone-curlews, the teen age days part 3.
Initially I thought they were sick, or dead, young ones in crumpled heaps, apparently this is normal, they completely forget to hide for a week or so, the parents increase security.
#birds
#ausbirds
#photography
Hide yourself, I don’t want to, you are not camouflaged, I don’t care. A young midsized bush stone -curlew on its side, parent looking on. A crumpled heap of two juvenile bush stone/curlews, their remains are often found around this size, one day they stand up and be normal again, the little ones there isn’t much of them to leave remains so there are probably just as many little ones taker For ground dwelling birds is on odd thing to do with kookaburras, pheasant coucals and other birds of prey are about, the Tawny frogmouth hang around at night.
September 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
@ankemarsh.bsky.social
A pair of fig birds in the late afternoon sun with clear blue sky in North Queensland.
#birds
#ausbirds
A male fig bird on the branches of a Tabebuia tree, it has distinctive red patch around its black eye, black upper head, light brown chest and yellow underbody, facing to the right. A female fig bird on a Tabebuia tree, it’s facing right, dark eyes and a lighter coloured bill than the male, mottled cream and clack feathers.
September 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
How to make a Bush Stone-curlew part 2.
They always hatch in front of me when I don’t have a camera, it’s a conventional affair.
These are wild birds but due to our close living arrangement I am tolerated to a degree.
I would assist in shooing cats and dogs with them.
#ausbird
#birds
#Photography
Time for a stretch or shift change of the bush stone-curlew nest, one egg is laid, around, 4 days later a second, hatching around 28 days later Two young chicks at the feet of the parent bush sone-curlew being taught wow to get worms. The family of four resting in the mottled afternoon shade, in a well used gateway, of course, the chicks are at the left rear.
September 8, 2025 at 12:31 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
How to make a bush stone-curlew, I observed them for years, there are plenty in North Queensland, rare elsewhere but being reintroduced in southern states.
#birds
Two curlews pair up, only they know who is male or female, two birds standing in front of dianella, only one head seen looking to the left, dark bill with a dark grey eye patch on a creamy grey background, large yellow eyes and a dark grey , a mottled chest of cream and brown feathers with a mottled grey back. Long grey legs with a thick knee, actually the ankle. With bush stone Curlews the best nesting site is tested by each bird, the nest must be in a gateway, doorway, driveway, path to clothes line, next to the car, anywhere it will impede humans. The nest, a couple of sticks, the nocturnal birds mate at night in the long grass, I have no pictures of that. One is usually on the nest and another lurks nearby, they take turns, sometimes the leave it unattended. One egg with anothe in the next 4 days is usual. If you are spotted anywhere close to the nest they run at you making a growling hissing sound, making themselves look big. Too close can cover a very large area, I was in a small yard so we had to co exist, they would still charge but with less enthusiasm.
August 29, 2025 at 10:44 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I went out for a social evening with the ukulele, when my hands are dodgy I take my non wooden ukulele, it bounces.
My friend, and old band mate tried mine and commandeered it, I was stuck with her a high end ukulele that didn’t bounce, it was an evening of caution and anxiety.
A white Enya concert ukulele, it will survive a fall, made of stuff, carbon plastic? It’s not bad. The last ukulele I dropped was a spruce top, it shattered. Back when I could still stand and play, I still had to lean up against a wall. An old punk and metal head in a ukulele band, all of them very talented multi instrumentalists and all round cool people. The lady in pink nicked my Enya and I got the nice but fragile Ohana Vita. I think we were filling in as the theatre people did their costume changes.
August 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
I lived close to a group of bush stone-curlews for over 20 years, recording their lives.
The only way to tell their sex is by endoscopy, their parenting is identical the calls have been described as wailing.
Nocturnal and ground dwelling.

#birds
#wildoz
#photography
#Australia
A bush stone-curlew, which is not a curlew, resting on the ground facing the right in a very brownish dappled light and being camouflaged by it A bush stone-curlew on an egg, they are ground nesting, getting close will invite a confrontation, the bird is laying down facing slightly to the right, in the sun it’s colours become vibrant, shades of grey and black with patterns on the wings. A pointed beak and big yellow nocturnal eyes, a grey cap and brownish cheeks separated by patches of cream.
August 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
harryheadbanger.bsky.social
A masked lap wing next door, one of a pair that have been in the area for a couple of days.
These things are great acrobats swooping anything during breeding season and even feigning injury to distract predators looking for their chick, they are ground dwellers.
#birdoftheday
#birds
#photography
A masked lapwing, it has a yellow wattle on its face that droops down, a pale beak and a pointed black head. Brownish grey wings and a light cream body with lengthy legs that have a reddish tinge, this. The bird is standing facing slightly to the left surrounded by weeds with small flowers
August 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM