A
Square-tailed Kite is quite a record. Even supported by a photo….. Isn’t that just the # 3 or # 4 record of the species
for the COG AoI? And just the second from Canberra. I thought it was the first time that the species has been photographed in our area but fortunately I checked before sending this off and found this latest report (nearly 3 years ago, copied in below, that
I remembered because I went out that time, in a vain hope of finding it). And how about that. Not just that, but observed by (2 of) the same people!
About 10 years ago I predicted that this should be the next new species to go on the COG records. Steve Wilson’s book included it but concluded that the one
suggested record (from 1967) was an error. With a lot better books available and more information now, it is clear that this species is clearly different from Black Kite and not hard to tell apart, also we now know it does show seasonal summer movements into
SE Australia and this appears to be becoming less rare.
Philip
From: Steve Holliday [
Sent: Sunday, 9 December, 2018 1:29 PM
To: ;
Subject: [canberrabirds] Gooroo South Woodland Survey 9 December 2018; including Square-tailed Kite
The summer survey in the southern half of Goorooyarroo was done by myself, Prue Buckley, and David and Kathy Cook this morning, in rather warm weather. The reserve was looking fairly dry, although
a couple of the dams had a reasonable amount of water, and there were plenty of weeds in flower, along with a few native forbs. 56 species were recorded for the morning with a few standouts.
A rather tatty Square-tailed Kite flying over site 5 was, unsurprisingly, a new species for this survey. Other raptors included Brown Falcon, Brown Goshawk and Nankeen Kestrel. A Southern Boobook
was unintentionally flushed at site 2, and sat out for a while before disappearing. A male Red-capped Robin was another good record for Gooroo. Elsewhere there were a reasonable number of thornbills, gerygones and other small birds, including Speckled Warblers
in a few places, Sacred Kingfishers, plenty of Noisy Friarbirds, a couple of Dusky Woodswallows and Superb Parrots. Dave found a Buff-rumped Thornbill nest, other breeding records included Weebills with dependent young, and young Kookaburras audible in a hollow
with an adult keeping watch nearby.
Other fauna included an Echidna, a Shingleback, Golden Sun Moth and Amethyst Hairstreak, amongst other more usual butterflies.
Photos of Square-tailed Kite and Boobook here
https://ebird.org/australia/view/checklist/S50532794
Steve
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
