Tawny Frogmouth Owl

This morning we went for a bush walk just across the road from Matt and Carolyn's house in Cleveland, Brisbane. There was a wide array of wildlife to see but none more strange than this tawny frogmouth owl which I disturbed from its daytime slumber on the ground by nearly standing on it. It then flew up into a eucalyptus tree and stared at us with its bright golden yellow eye. It is the weirdest owl I have ever seen with its long extended head, wide beak and frill. They sit in the branches and with their perfectly camouflaged plumage and an elongated pose blend in perfectly with the tree branches. They are nocturnal and are closely related to nightjars, so I was particularly pleased to get this shot.