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Hi,
I'm just back on-line after returning to Sydney from a holiday
on Fraser Island.
The following is a summary report of an apparent sighting of 2
Grey Falcons by my wife and myself on Fraser Is.
Can anyone confirm a characteristic observation
which puzzled us: does the growing juvenile Grey Falcon's cere turn bright
yellow before the eyerings do - because this is what we found?
SUMMARY REPORT
Date/time: Sep 10, 1.30pm
Location: Red Canyon (Coloured Sands), eastern coast of
Fraser Is. (Cathedral Beach)
Weather: Warm, sunny, very light breeze.
Observers & binos:
Lynn Roubin - Nikon Travelite Series V
- 8x25
Bruce Roubin - Tasco RareBird Series - 10x42
Observations:
The first bird was perched with a leg tucked-up in
its breast, sitting approx 10 metres up on the foremost ridge at
the Canyon entrance.
It had evenly light grey on head and upper plumage, and was
very pale grey to white underneath (appeared white to unaided eye).
Looking up to the bird with our binos from about 18m
away, we found fine black streaks on its throat and breast and very distinct
moustache line under eye - just a bit longer than the bill length.
The cere was bright yellow, but the eyerings were not
(this was checked from various vantage points around the base of the ridge). The
eyes were dark and set in just barely discernible light grey
rings.
The feet were yellow, but not as bright as that of the
cere.
After approx 10 mins, this bird took flight when a whistling
kite flew into view using the sun as cover. The falcon was then
observed gliding back and forth across the top of the canyon, criss-crossing
with another Grey Falcon which had also taken to the air from some hidden
perching spot. The 2nd falcon's features could not be seen in any
detail, apart from matching the 1st one in its gliding angular wing profile
and size, with the very pale grey below (to darker wing tips).
After 4-5 crossing glides, they both
headed-off behind the canyon and out of sight.
We passed by this canyon on 3 more days
within the following week, but each time it was very windy (strong SE) and the
birds were not to be seen again.
Kind Regards,
Bruce Roubin
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