Alan,
I don't think anything else fits. I note in Pizzey & Knight it states
that a juvenile moulting into immature plumage will have a whitish buff
body and this bird was very pale. The barring on the tail was very
distinctive. It also flew with similar character to a swamp harrier and
I had just seen one patrolling the Marton Park wetland by the refinery
before heading into Botany Bay NP. It also kept its head down as Dean
Portelli mentioned.
So I'm convinced this was a spotted harrier, which it seems is pretty
rare on the coast.
At the same spot today, a white necked heron flew over, actually
arriving from the ocean, I suspect it had crossed over from the north
side of the bay.
regards,
Chris Ross
Alan Morris wrote:
>
> Chris,
> There are a number of recent sightings of Spotted Harriers in coastal heath
> and dunes of late. I am sure that your bird is a Spotted Harrier, so if you
> are convincedc please advise.
>
> Alan Morris
> Birding NSW Records Officer
>
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