ANBG Sunday

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Not having been there, I can't add much. Best advice is have a look at Steven Debus' new book (reviewed by me in recent CBN). I suggest the Brown Falcon is among the more noisy of raptors and will call in many situations, making loud cackling, chattering and screeching calls (not like a Grey Goshawk - mellow, rather nasal, upslurred ringing whistles) - both quotes from Stephen Debus' new book, so I am not sure at the suggested quote you mention from Simpson and Day (I don't see that mentioned). As to whether anyone has sighted any falcons around the ANBG recently, that doesn't identify what you found. There are many differences in colour and shape and flight pattern between Brown Falcons and Grey Goshawks (both are possibilities). Unless you only saw it front side, I think you should be able to know if the bird was basically grey or brown on top, but you are not going to convince a RP that this could be a Grey Falcon on this.........

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----From: Chris Sanderson [ Sent: Tuesday, 21 May 2013 1:28 PM      To: Rob Geraghty
Cc: Canberrabirds; Philip Veerman      Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] ANBG Sunday

Hi Rob, I wouldn't describe the Brown Falcon as particularly silent, I often pick them up in flight due to their loud and distinctive call.  Grey Goshawk also has quite a different distinctive call (which is deceptively songbird-like), so perhaps listening to some calls will help you nail down an ID?  I don't know of any call recordings of Grey Falcons but they have been silent on the few occasions I've seen them including while hunting.

Cheers,

Chris

On Mon, May 20, 2013 at 11:37 PM, Rob Geraghty <> wrote:

Thanks Philip. Having checked Simpson and Day, I'm kicking myself that I didn't have my binoculars, because what I remember most closely resembled a Grey Falcon, or a light morph Brown Falcon. The bird produced a loud call at rest, while the Brown Falcon is described as being mostly silent at rest. I saw a similar bird near Michelago recently while on a survey trip but again, didn't see it for long enough to get a proper ID. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has sighted any falcons around the ANBG recently and if so, what they were.

 

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Rob Geraghty

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From: Philip Veerman <m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");" target=_blank>>      To: 'Rob Geraghty' <m("yahoo.com","the_harper");" target=_blank>>; 'Canberrabirds' <m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target=_blank>> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 10:11 AM      Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] ANBG Sunday

As for Have Grey Goshawks been seen in the ANBG? the answer is yes. That could be as good a spot for them as anywhere in Canberra. I and my team observed one and I think Malcolm Fyfe did separately on the same day on one of the Sullivan's Creek catchment surveys but that was about 5 years ago. No doubt there are some other records. I'm sure COG records could get the list.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Geraghty [
Sent: Monday, 20 May 2013 8:50 AM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] ANBG Sunday

I had a brief glimpse of a raptor at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, but unfortunately I didn't have my binoculars with me to get a better ID; I'd actually gone to the gardens to try out a macro flash. At first it was sitting high in a gum tree in the picnic area just near the new central Australian garden, calling loudly. It then flew off toward Black Mountain, and called again in the distance. It reminded me of a Grey Goshawk, which I've seen years ago in southern Queensland. It seemed to have quite a long tail and pointed wingtips. Have Grey Goshawks been seen in the ANBG?

I also got to watch an Eastern Spinebill happily feeding no more than a metre from me. There were lots of Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots, Gang gangs, at least one Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo, Red Wattlebirds, Currawongs, Magpies, Superb Fairy Wrens and White Browed Scrubwrens.

 

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Rob Geraghty