birding-aus Powerful Owl

["Paul McDonald" <>]

birding-aus
Hi all, 

Finally stopped procrastinating about it and went to look for Ninox strenua at  the well known spot at Epping. 15 mins after leaving the office and I was  looking at an adult eating the lower half remains of last nights meal, a Common  Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus? peregrinus (from memory)). Fantastic sight  to watch this magnificent bird eat a whole hind leg in one gulp! Amazing! Sat  and watched it (from size a female, but I can't be sure) for a couple of hours.  After many attempts at finding it during the night, and half dozen times hearing  their enormous call, to see one during the day was absolutely great. It was  perched in the coachwood as I had been told, and was a very sleepy customer!

While Rufous Owls do look meaner, these birds have some serious beaks and  talons, the size and thickness of the tarsus alone was incredible. And the  wings!!!!!!!!!!! It reminded me very much of a huge peregrine, with the distinct owl  head shape being the least obvious in comparison with every other Australian  owl, in my opinion.

Just a note to say that this bird was definitely worth the wait for me, and to  thank all those birders that made this sight known. It has definitely reinforced  my opinion that if I am reincarnated as an animal, I want to be on the owl end  not the mammal one!

Cheers, Paul
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Paul McDonald
Department of Biological Sciences
Macquarie University, Sydney NSW, 2109
Australia
Phone: (02) 9850 8191 Fax: (02) 9850 8245

http://www.bio.mq.edu.au/ecology/
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