Hello Tobias,
Two questions before I give you my opinion on the bird. What colour was it and did it have wing panels?
Cheers!
Dimitris
From:
To:
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:17:00 +1100
Subject: [canberrabirds] Unusual raptor
Hi all,
This morning I observed an unusual raptor soaring
above our school (in North Weston). I only had a view of it for about half a
minute before I was dragged inside by a classmate:)
I don't usually post queries on bird IDs,
especially when it very likely cannot be determined (such as in this case), but
I thought I might see what other people might think of it, as well as alerting
people to this bird.
The most striking feature (from a distance, without
bins) was the black wing tips. The most likely suspect is probably a Little
Eagle, but I have never been struck by the black wingtips of a L Eagle.
Certainly not a falcon or an eagle or a goshawk. Not a Whistling Kite, tail was
very short. In fact, I would say that the tail was bordering on being too short
for a Little Eagle even (or what I could see of it from a distance).
Flapping was fairly fast for a bird of its size
(maybe around that of a L Eagle or Whistling Kite at a guess). The wings
appeared much longer in comparison to the body than a Little Eagles, broader at
the tips. The bird lacked the 'compact' look of a Little Eagle, it was more like
a harrier in that respect. But the tail was too short for a harrier.
I guess I would say it looked like a Black-breasted
Buzzard in shape, but I am fully aware of how out of range this is, not to
mention the fact that I haven't seen a buzzard anyway.
Oh well, opinions welcomed, but I guess this might
have to remain unIDed.
Thanks
Tobias
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