>We were totting up the total species
>seen (88) when we realised that we had observed 10 different raptors in a
>radius of 65km of Ingham.
>Is this an Australian record?
Hi Alexandra,
It sure is a big number. Australian record? I doubt it. In some inland
areas you can get well over 88 Black Kites alone, and on the 24.6.97 while
driving through Lakefield National Park we had 11 species of birds of prey:
4 Spotted Harrriers, 2 Swamp Harriers, 1 Brown Goshawk, 1 Collared
Sparrowhawk,
1 Wedge-tailed Eagle, 8 Whistling Kites, 30 Black Kites, 1 Square-tailed
Kite, 3 Black-shouldered Kite, 1 Brown Falcon, 8 Nankeen Kestrels. A total
including unidentified of 64. Winter is good for raptors on Cape York, and
it was bad luck not to see a Black-breasted Buzzard, which is not uncommon.
That would have made it 12 species. Though we covered more ground than you
did.
Thirlling, when these kinds of counts happen, isn't it.
All the best and Happy Birding, Klaus
Kirrama Wildlife Tours Klaus & Brenda Uhlenhut
PO Box 133 SILKWOOD QLD Australia
http://www.gspeak.com.au/kirrama
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