Just back from a birding trip to Kakadu, where highlights included
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail near Cooinda, Masked Owl along the Old
Darwin Road and superb views of Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon above
Waterfall Creek (Gunlom). No sign of any White-throated Grasswrens at
the usual spots here on May 5th , a fire has been through and there is
much less of the spinifex-type grass at present.
Coming out, a large very dark raptor soared up over the gorge, which
unexpectedly had my mental wheels spinning as it was none of the usual
suspects, initially most resembling a Black Honey-Buzzard from New
Britain, though had I been in SE Asia Crested Honey-Buzzard would fit
the bill nicely. It was seen very well for several minutes and some
quite good photos taken, which I will be posting shortly on Surfbirds
and the cassowary-house.com.au website. I have just returned home and
checking of the relevant books reveals no doubt that this was a dark
form of Crested Honey-Buzzard.
I phoned Niven McCrie that night to alert him and now put it out
generally, so anyone heading there should keep an eye on the raptors.
The bird was in good plumage and the strikingly banded tail was a real
eye opener, as was the dark plumage with heavily banded and chequered
underwing. A perfunctory net search from Cooinda shows one mainland
Australian record from WA, though the species is a strong migrant. A
BARC form will be completed shortly.
Good luck to anyone going to check it out.
Phil Gregory
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