Hi All,
I haven?t had a chance to get on the net in a while due to work commitments
however I have had a chance to do some bird watching. I am using the names
of streets etc so any body wishing to see if they can find the Little Eagle
mentioned in this email have an opportunity to do so. On Sunday the 30/05/04
I decided to go out for a day and observe as many raptors as possible around
my home in Carrara on the Gold Coast in Queensland and around the flood
plains (on the corner of Boowaggan Rd and Robina Parkway) which are about 3
km?s from my house. The day started great when I was preparing to leave home
to my left I noticed a flock of Rainbow Lorikeets being stirred up by a
single immature Brown Goshawk (a lifer) which flew straight over my head.
As I was riding to the flood plains I watched a single Nankeen Kestrel in
search of food for approximately 5 minutes and after this I headed for the
flood plains. After going through the roundabout onto the Robina Parkway
which is near the Carrara Markets I road for about 100 metres when I spotted
what I thought was a Whistling Kite perched in a tree to my left so I pulled
over for a closer look with my binoculars. A shock came when the bird which
was only 20 metres away turned out to be a Little Eagle (a lifer) of the
light phase. I observed the bird from 11:55 am to 12:20 pm before it flew
off. Soon I took off deciding to come back later to see if it had come back.
There was no sign of the bird when I came back at 4:30 pm to the same spot I
observed it in.
When I arrived at the floodplains I observed a number of raptors through out
the day and follows is a list.
White-bellied Sea Eagle (two were observed mating near a large nest in a
tall Eucalypt.)
Whistling Kite (a number of individuals were observed and later I noticed a
nest in one of the trees which was empty however two young Whistling Kites
were in the same tree a few metres away from the nest waiting hungrily for
the next meal and what would soon be their first flight which looks as
though it will be in the next day or two.)
Black-shouldered Kite (a pair was observed making a grating noise whilst
mating)
Brown Goshawk (an immature bird seen late in the afternoon calling
continuously)
Swamp Harrier
Osprey
Brahminy Kite
I would like to hear from anyone via email who has seen one or more Little
Eagles on the Gold Coast since 2003. I would like to find out how common
this bird is on the Coast as I know it is a nomadic species however it would
be interesting to see just how often people have observed this species. I
will be sending in an atlas form to record my sighting.
Yours Sincerely
Mr Jade Welch
Gold Coast,
Queensland
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