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Further to this. Today I went past this Kestrel
site (at about 11 a.m.). The bird was sitting on the same branch. This time
there were many cows & a bull or two resting under the tree, so I didn't go
so close. As I walked away another Kestrel arrived carrying what looked like a
skink, some calling and the waiting bird flew to the arriving birds, received
the food and went straight into the hollow. About a minute later it came out,
some more chittering calls and a copulation.
So
does that constitute a breeding record for the blitz?
Does
anyone wish to be shown the site? It would be very easy to film (apart from
the cattle), about 100m from the car park, off Meredith Circ
Kambah.
Philip
I did four sites on Saturday with one and two helpers and (I think) seven
sites on Sunday by myself. Some for 2 hours, some for 20 minutes. Most were hard
work, today without help, keeping up with the recording and clock watching. Too
many White-throated Gerygones, White-winged Trillers, Grey Fantails, Rufous
Whistlers, etc, to be able to count, at most sites and Wedge-tailed Eagles,
Sacred Kingfishers, Kestrels, at several sites. Only modest number of breeding
records. Unlike last year, no large numbers of Diamond Firetails, only two at
one site. One of the Kestrels sightings was when I stood for a while looking at
some ancient farm machinery and then looked up to see a male Kestrel perched
about 4 metres above me at the entrance to a hollow spout. It looks like a good
nest spot but there was no sign of any other Kestrels and no sound and the bird
was sitting very quietly. It vanished when I was looking away. It may have gone
in the spout. As this is close to home (on Urambi Hills) I will go and recheck.
I wonder if a breeding record exists if it is only found some time later.
Philip ,
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