Fair enough, I never seen either but they have both been reported at WTP. Can
I assume that such range overlaps are rare enough to ignore? I was thinking of
a perched bird, not flying.
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Dolby
Sent: Monday, 11 May 2009 2:42 PM
To: Peter Shute
Cc: birding-aus
Subject: Grey Falcons
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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