What a great record and good photo. Surely no room for doubt of the ID on that photo (plus description). I’ve been saying for years it is one of the species
we just had to get a Canberra record some day. I know of the other AOI record, but one in inner Canberra is really exciting.
Philip
From: Steve Holliday [
Sent: Sunday, 31 January 2016 9:43 AM
To: 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Square-tailed Kite in Ainslie
About 45 minutes ago, excellent flight views of a STK over our house in Duffy St. Appeared to be a young bird without much white on the head. Could only see the underside. A harrier sized bird with buoyant flight on long upswept wings,
broadest towards tip, with 6 barred primaries clearly visible. White window towards wing tips and a dark carpal crescent also present. Rufous breast and underwing coverts. Didn’t flap its wings during the minute or so that we could see it.
Prue got some photos, hopefully sharp enough to confirm the id, haven’t had a chance to look at them on a large screen yet. Will post if they are good enough. I have little doubt the id is correct, a bird that I have seen fairly often,
particularly on the NSW south coast.
Last seen drifting north towards the Fisher St entrance to MT Ainslie NR (off Duffy St).
Very exciting!
Steve
