Yep, Pete, in flight those details are exactly what you're looking for,
specifically when comparing Grey Falcon to other falcons such as Brown,
Black, Peregrine. Essentially if it doesn't have bright yellow orange
legs and feet, base of the bill, and cere, then it isn't a Grey.
Also in regards to Grey Goshawk (although tail projection is
distinguishable) they're actually two very different birds found in two
very difference habitat types. They are very hard to confuse. Whereas
Grey Goshawk are a relatively slow flying, round tipped goshawk found in
wet temperate forests along Australia's east coast, Grey Falcon are
strong and fast falcon (possibly faster than a Peregrine particularly in
straight flight) that are found in the arid desert regions of central
Australia such as gibber plain.
Cheers,
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Shute
Sent: Monday, 11 May 2009 11:00 AM
To: Tim Dolby; John Barkla
Cc: birding-aus
Subject: Grey Falcons
Tim, can you see those details in flight?
If the bird is perched, is tail projection a reliable way to distinguish
it from Grey Goshawk?
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Tim Dolby
Sent: Monday, 11 May 2009 10:46 AM
To: John Barkla
Cc: birding-aus
Subject: Grey Falcons
Good stuff John. They may be doing reasonably well in that area at the
moment. Last spring I saw a Grey Falcon nearby along Toona Gate Rd. I
also had a probable Grey Falcon about 5 km east of Cameron's Corner -
between the corner and the Fort Grey campground (where Ground
Cuckoo-shrike was a common campground bird). Interested to see the
photos.
You probably already know this, the person doing the research on Grey
Falcon is Jonny Schoenjahn - see
http://www.users.bigpond.com/jonnybird/greyfalcon.htm, where you can
download a Record Report Form. There's also an identification hints
area, which for the record states: Rule number 1, if you don't see the
bright orange-yellow of the legs / feet, the base of the bill, the cere
and around the eyes, then almost definitely it's not a Grey Falcon; Rule
number 2, if the legs/feet are bright orange-yellow but not the cere,
then it's not a Grey Falcon; Rule number 3, do not rely on the dark
wingtips, they are a misleading, not diagnostic field mark.
Cheers,
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of John Barkla
Sent: Sunday, 10 May 2009 10:27 PM
To: Birding-Aus
Subject: Grey Falcons
I spent a week in April at Bowra Station near Cunnamulla looking amongst
other things for Grey Falcons. For the second year, I failed to see
one. I decided to come home (Fitzroy, Melbourne) via Thargomindah,
Tibooburra and Broken Hill. Flood water on the Bulloo River prevented
me from taking the route I preferred, so before I reached Tibooburra, I
decided to add Banded Whiteface to my trip list and detour towards
Cameron Corner and Merty Merty.
On Friday 24 April 2009, as I was pulling into the corner store at
Cameron Corner, I was delighted to see 2 Grey Falcons circling only
about 50 metres from the ground and only 100 metres from the fuel pumps.
I had my camera sitting on the spare seat and was able to get 9 photos
before they drifted off to the south. Sadly the photos are not dead
sharp - but they certainly confirm the identification. When I excitedly
relayed my good fortune to the lady behind the counter (whose name I
have forgotten) and a group of 7 motor cyclists and support crew who
were out to cross the Simpson Desert, the lady pointed out a Birds
Australia notice on the wall requesting people to report all sightings.
She told me she lived there and had never seen one, but would keep a
look out in future.
John
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