Of course I don’t know but based just on what you wrote, I would go with your
First guess was a juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle.
Because I reckon for anyone with reasonable knowledge, what you thought is usually a very good clue, or it is the best clue you have until proved wrong. What you describe still potentially fits a juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle.
It doesn’t suggest much else. You then went on to “but I wasn’t certain as it never went into a glide, or soared.”
So? My suggestion is that the mention that “it never went into a glide, or soared”
in no way goes against your first guess. Indeed if a
White-bellied Sea-Eagle was flying low and in the evening when there is not much hot
air to soar on, then I would not expect you to see it glide or soaring. The description of low flight fits what you suggest it as. My next point is that I don’t think you
are certain either way. So that “you weren’t certain” doesn’t say it isn’t. I think you can only come to what is the most likely.
Philip
From: Steve Read <>
Sent: Sunday, 29 March 2020 6:46 PM
To: Canberra Birds <>
Subject: [canberrabirds] Tell me I’m dreaming
Towards the end of my solitary constitutional on Oakey Hill this evening, I was idly watching a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo flap southwards across the sky when another bird emerged over the ridge, flying behind and above the cockatoo but on
the same general course. Help with identification would be gratefully received.
The second bird was dark, brownish against the light, somewhat mottled, and very large, with heavy, flapping, steady wingbeats. It flew well behind the cockatoo’s flight-path, so was further away than that bird, and on that basis was clearly
much larger than the cockatoo.
First guess was a juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle, but I wasn’t certain as it never went into a glide, or soared. As it flew steadily away and I searched for a key feature, I ruled out Wedge-tailed Eagle or heron or harrier on shape &c.
There was no obvious curved neck or trailing legs - or any other distinguishing feature, although the light was poor. Australian Bittern crossed my mind from size and heaviness of flight.
What are the other possibilities?
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