Tim, can you see those details in flight?
If the bird is perched, is tail projection a reliable way to distinguish it
from Grey Goshawk?
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Tim Dolby
Sent: Monday, 11 May 2009 10:46 AM
To: John Barkla
Cc: birding-aus
Subject: Grey Falcons
Good stuff John. They may be doing reasonably well in that area at the moment.
Last spring I saw a Grey Falcon nearby along Toona Gate Rd. I also had a
probable Grey Falcon about 5 km east of Cameron's Corner - between the corner
and the Fort Grey campground (where Ground Cuckoo-shrike was a common
campground bird). Interested to see the photos.
You probably already know this, the person doing the research on Grey Falcon is
Jonny Schoenjahn - see http://www.users.bigpond.com/jonnybird/greyfalcon.htm,
where you can download a Record Report Form. There's also an identification
hints area, which for the record states: Rule number 1, if you don't see the
bright orange-yellow of the legs / feet, the base of the bill, the cere and
around the eyes, then almost definitely it's not a Grey Falcon; Rule number 2,
if the legs/feet are bright orange-yellow but not the cere, then it's not a
Grey Falcon; Rule number 3, do not rely on the dark wingtips, they are a
misleading, not diagnostic field mark.
Cheers,
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of John Barkla
Sent: Sunday, 10 May 2009 10:27 PM
To: Birding-Aus
Subject: Grey Falcons
I spent a week in April at Bowra Station near Cunnamulla looking amongst other
things for Grey Falcons. For the second year, I failed to see one. I decided
to come home (Fitzroy, Melbourne) via Thargomindah, Tibooburra and Broken Hill.
Flood water on the Bulloo River prevented me from taking the route I
preferred, so before I reached Tibooburra, I decided to add Banded Whiteface to
my trip list and detour towards Cameron Corner and Merty Merty.
On Friday 24 April 2009, as I was pulling into the corner store at Cameron
Corner, I was delighted to see 2 Grey Falcons circling only about 50 metres
from the ground and only 100 metres from the fuel pumps. I had my camera
sitting on the spare seat and was able to get 9 photos before they drifted off
to the south. Sadly the photos are not dead sharp - but they certainly confirm
the identification. When I excitedly relayed my good fortune to the lady
behind the counter (whose name I have forgotten) and a group of 7 motor
cyclists and support crew who were out to cross the Simpson Desert, the lady
pointed out a Birds Australia notice on the wall requesting people to report
all sightings. She told me she lived there and had never seen one, but would
keep a look out in future.
John
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