Whistling kites over Lake Burley Griffin etc.

["Hawkins, Brian" <>]

Three excellent things happened on my (late) ride to work today:

 

1. I was swooped by a magpie, the first time this year
2. I saw 2 Rakalis/Water-rats confabbing in the middle of the lake, then going their separate ways – one appeared to be swimming all the way to the other side
3. 2 Whistling Kites flew over, causing great consternation among the Masked Lapwings, cockatoos etc.  They flew roughly from Yarralumla over the National Museum, then continued north.  I didn’t have binos, but the general light brown colour, straw-pale underwing panels, and distinctly long, flat/rounded tail left me with little doubt.

 

Brian