Hi Tony,
I agree with Jeff, it is a juvenile Swamp Harrier. The underwing pattern is
spot on, looking exactly like the illustration in HANZAB (the illustrator
beiong one J. Davies!) and while the wing shape captured in the photos
doesn't look exactly typical of their jizz, I have seen Swampies hold their
wings like this, (and they are certainly too broad for any falcon). The long
tail alone rules out Black-breasted Buzzard which is what I think you may
have been hoping for.
Sean Dooley
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Tony Keene
Sent: Tuesday, 7 June 2011 2:03 PM
To:
Subject: Raptor ID: Williamstown, Melbourne 6th June
Hi all,
I got this set of photos while at Williamstown yesterday:
http://www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk/random/raptor1.html
The bird came from the east along the shore line and then turned out over
the harbour. After seeing the Silver Gulls ferociously mobbing a Kestrel
minutes earlier, they surprisingly left this bird alone. I thought
Square-tailed Kite at first, but the underwing pattern and tail aren't
right. Another thought entered my head, but that would be insanity. Note the
large grey beak with black tip in the last photo.
Any comments or suggestions welcome!
This bird came at the end of a long weekend of fantastic fun birding - Ed
Williams and I went up to Murray-Sunset and Hattah-Kulkyne NPs and managed
to bag some really nice birds. On the Monday, I even managed to get
Black-faced Cormorant in Williamstown and Swift Parrots at Royal Park. 31
lifers for the weekend (32 if this raptor is ID'd). I'm writing a trip
report at the moment and I"ll post the link here later.
Thanks to everyone who offered advice about Melbourne birding over the last
couple of weeks.
Cheers!
Tony
Photos, paintings and drawings of Australian, NZ, Swiss and British Birds
www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk ===============================
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