Hi All,
one night last week around 8pm I drove into
Sutherland (Southern Sydney). There are a number of trees between the railway
track and the main shopping street where Rainbow Lorikeets roost in large
numbers. As I drove along a posse of lorikeets chased a large bird across the
street and it perched on electricity wires. As I drove around a corner I lost
sight of it so I got out and went back to the corner. As I approached, the large
bird flew across in front of me. Apart from the size the only feature I could
see clearly was 'banding' or similar markings on a pale-ish underside. >From the
fleeting view I got, it looked more like parallel bands (like Rufous Owl) rather
than chevrons, but all I can suggest is a
Powerful Owl. I know they're in the general area - I have heard them on several
occasions from my house at Como and Sutherland is only a few Km from the
Royal National Park/ But I would be very surprised to find them in a well lit
and noisy urban area like Sutherland.
Is this unusual? Or if not a Powerful Owl, any
suggestions as to what it might have been?
Paul Doyle.
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