At about 4.10 pm on Sunday, we had just got onto the Freeway east of
Ballarat, driving home to Melbourne. Before we reached the Chapmans Road
overpass, I saw a fair- sized bird flying from right to left at
reasonable height. As frontseat passenger, I got a good if brief view.
It was very round-winged, primaries only very slightly 'fingered' at the
ends. It was very pale but not white underneath, perhaps with a fawn
tinge. The head was as broad as the body, with no projecting beak
visible. It seemed almost flat-faced, and with almost no neck
indentation. It flew in slow flaps like a heron. The light was good,
with low sun on it, under the cloud cover. We were in pretty open
farming country.
My impression was that I had seen an Owl - I suppose a Barn Owl, but
that is a pure guess. Presumably if it was disturbed it might well be
flying off to another roost as I have in fact seen a Barn Owl do.
I'd be glad of any comments from people who know their owls.
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe
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