Rare raptor in Sydney

[Andy Burton's Bush Tours <>]

Hi all,

 It is yet another perfect, mid-winter day in Sydney; cloudless, with a dry westerly breeze and a forecast maximum of 20° C.

At 10.10 am I heard the Noisy Miners give one of their frequent raptor warning calls and went to the balcony to investigate. The balcony overlooks the narrow, steep-sided valley of Flat Rock Gully at 33°  49.245´ S    151°  12.535´ E. The gully runs into Middle Harbour and then into Sydney Harbour.

High above was a raptor, gliding away from me and into the wind. Identification was difficult until it circled, which it did several times in the few minutes I was watching it. It was then apparent that I was seeing a bird that is most unusual in coastal Sydney although there are probably at least two of these birds in the western outskirts of the city.

It was gliding on upswept, long, fingered wings and its tail was medium length, straight-cut at its end and angular at the corners. It was a Square-tailed Kite. This is my first sighting of this species in the 16 years that I have lived in this immediate vicinity.

This narrow, 3 km. long gully runs through suburban housing, sports ovals and a short, narrow section of remnant forest.

For most of its length it no longer exists except as an  underground tunnel. Despite this it has produced the following raptors since 1986:

Black-shouldered kite

Black Kite

Square-tailed Kite

Whistling Kite

White-bellied Sea-eagle

Brown Goshawk

Grey Goshawk

Collared Sparrowhawk

Brown Falcon

Australian Hobby

Black Falcon - possible

Peregrine Falcon

Nankeen Kestrel

In addition a Powerful Owl has been heard and subsequently seen within the past two weeks. Relatively recently Osprey, Pacific Baza and Wedge-tailed Eagle have all been seen within a distance of about 2.5 km as the raptor flies.

A pretty good list for a small area of suburban Sydney only 4 km north of the Harbour Bridge.

Regards, Andy

--
Andy Burton's Bush Tours
12/8 Cambridge St,
Cammeray,
NSW  2062
Australia

Ph 61 2 9954 0893