byronbaybackyard

Birds of Prey

The Blackshouldered Kite I would have to say is one of my favourite birds. They are only a small to medium sized raptor but they are so beautiful with dove grey wings, striped with a black panel and a white breast which they fluff the feathers out on, almost like bib. They have big eyes with a patch of black feathers which extend slightly past the eye giving them a slightly oriental look. They have a small hooked beak and a small amount of black on the underwing. I'm repeatedly amazed at how close they will let me get, mind you they are always safely perched above the ground, but I've had a few of them just sit for quite awhile and let me take photos before they swoop off, usually to hover above the ground before they pounce on some small unsuspecting mammal, reptile or insect. To me they have an unusual way of looking which seems a little sad but very knowledgeable, as though they know something that I don't. It's August and I notice one of them most days around Byron. I'd never seen a Bazza Hawk before, so seeing four of them, mum & dad & the kids, wheeling around and showing off in the big trees in a friends yard was pretty exciting! The Brahminy Kites, and there are a few of them, hang around the wetlands and the coast looking for food & are unmistakable with their white head & breast & deep chestnut brown upper wings. The Osprey too swoop around the beaches, sometimes diving down to pick up food and just as quickly swooping off.

At the West Byron Wetlands the Swamp Harriers reign supreme but currently there's Whistling Kites that give them a run for their money. I did see one of the Whistling Kites today being harassed by a Friarbird, very bravely I thought, who eventually drove him off. Persistence and courage wins the day against power and strength. My backyard is also frequently visited by the pair of Grey Goshawks and a Collared Sparrowhawk, who unfortunately, catch the doves if they aren't fast enough flying off!

In one of the quieter streets of Byron Bay I've been photographing a pair of Tawny Frogmouth for about six years, locals in the street say they've been there for some fifteen years.
When I show my grandkids and godchildren I tell them they're the 'old married couple' and they always remember them. They are just like an old married couple often sitting right next
to each other and sometimes on different branches. They're a great indicator of the weather, when they're on a certain branch I know it'll be beautiful the next day because
they love to snooze there in the sun.

Most people don't look up and even if they do their camouflage is so good they blend into the bark of the tree. If someone comes close they close their eyes, point their beak upwards and
pretend to be branch. Quite often curiosity gets the better of them, especially the juveniles, and they'll open one eye and check you out. They're quite used to me and will stare at me
and then disdainfully point their bill up and close their eyes. Once in awhile I get a little close or they're a bit grumpy and one will make a loud clacking noise with their beak or, even better,
they'll emit a reverberating booming call.

Many people think they're owls but although related to owls, frogmouths are more closely related to Nightjars.

Frogmouths and owls have anisodactyl feet - meaning that one toe is facing backwards and the other three face forwards. However Frogmouth have fairly weak feet as they use
their beaks to catch prey. Owls eat small mammals, like mice and rats, so their bones are shorter and stronger than those of the Frogmouth which usually hunt for smaller prey.
They typically wait for their prey to come to them, only rarely hunting on the wing like owls.

The bulk of the Tawny Frogmouth's diet is made up of nocturnal insects, worms, slugs and snails. Small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds are also eaten. Most food is obtained by pouncing to the ground
from a tree or other elevated perch. Some prey items, such as moths, are caught in flight. The leading edges of the first primary (wing) feathers of the Tawny Frogmouth are feathered for silent flight.

Their general plumage is silver-grey, slightly paler below, streaked and mottled with black and rufous. A second plumage phase also occurs, with birds being russet-red.
They have yellow eyes and a wide beak topped with a tuft of bristly feathers.
They are nocturnal birds (night birds). During the day, they perch on tree branches, often low down, camouflaged as part of the tree.

Frogmouths have a regular breeding season, but birds in more arid areas may breed in response to heavy rains. Both sexes incubate the eggs. The male sits during the day, but both sexes share sitting at night
and both help care for the young. The nest is a loose platform of sticks, which is usually placed on a horizontal forked tree branch. Normally only one brood is raised in a season, but birds from the south may have two.

There are many unfortunate instances of Tawny Frogmouths being hit by cars while chasing insects illuminated in the beam of the headlights as they will often hunt low to
the ground. They stay together until one dies and sadly one of the pair I photograph, the male, was hit by someone driving too fast in the street at dusk. I was so upset, as were the neighbours,
and people just kept driving over him until he was completely flattened into the road. I'm happy to see that the female is now sitting with another Frogmouth but I suspect
it could be one of her offspring ... however that's just a 'feeling'. Since her mate was killed they stay higher up in the tree and very rarely come to sit in the sun on what was
their favourite branch.

Please drive slowly on our roads at night, I've seen Barn Owls flying around in town too and they get stunning by the headlights. If you find an injured bird please wrap it in a
blanket or soft cloth, place it in a box in a quiet dark place until you can take it to the vet or call Wires. You can also contact me through deb@byronbaybackyard.com.au
I believe many birds and animals die unnecessarily from trauma which occurs when people keep handling them, they are wild so please keep handling, movement
and noise to an absolute minimum where possible.

Click on images for a larger viewing version!

Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)

Immature White-bellied Sea-eagle Immature White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle with turtle White-bellied Sea-eagle with turtle

White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle
White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle

White-bellied Sea-eagle

Grey Goshawk, White Morph form - (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)

Grey Goshawk (white morph form) Grey Goshawk (white morph form)

Juvenile Grey Goshawk (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)

Juvenile Grey Goshawk Juvenile Grey Goshawk

Young Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) & Crows fighting over food

Whistling Kite Whistling Kite & Torresian Crows Whistling Kite & Torresian Crows Whistling Kite & Torresian Crows

Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster) - Breeding display

White-bellied Sea-eagles (breeding display) White-bellied Sea-eagles (breeding display) White-bellied Sea-eagles (breeding display) White-bellied Sea-eagles (breeding display)
White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagles (breeding display) White-bellied Sea-eagles (breeding display)

Tawny Frogmouth with two chicks Neptune 4 & Neptune 5 (2015)

Tawny Frogmouth chick Tawny Frogmouth chicks Tawny Frogmouth chick Tawny Frogmouth chick

Tawny Frogmouth fledgling Tawny Frogmouth chicks with dad Tawny Frogmouth family Tawny Frogmouth chick with mum

Tawny Frogmouth with juvenile named Neptune 111 (2014)

Tawny Frogmouth dad & chick Tawny Frogmouth chick
Tawny Frogmouth family
Tawny Frogmouth dad & chick

Tawny Frogmouth dad & chick Tawny Frogmouth chick Tawny Frogmouth dad & chick Tawny Frogmouth dad & chick

Young Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite

Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)

White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle

Tawny Frogmouth family (Podargus strigoides)

Tawny Frogmouth chicks Tawny Frogmouth chicks Tawny Frogmouth chick Tawny Frogmouth chick
Tawny Frogmouth chicks Tawny Frogmouth family Tawny Frogmouth chick Tawny Frogmouth chick

Tawny Frogmouth with juvenile named Neptune the 2nd 2013 (Podargus strigoides)

Tawny Frogmouth nest Tawny Frogmouth nest Tawny Frogmouth chick Tawny Frogmouth nest Tawny Frogmouth nest

 

Tawny Frogmout on nest

Tawny Frogmouth with juvenile named Neptune 2012 (Podargus strigoides)

Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile
Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile Tawny Frogmouth & juvenile in nest

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Spotted Harrier Spotted Harrier Spotted Harrier Spotted Harrier Spotted Harrier

Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)

White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle

Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)

Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle

Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides)

Little Eagle Little Eagle Little Eagle Little Eagle

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

Tawny Frogmouth Tawny Frogmouth nest Tawny Frogmouth (female breeding) Tawny Frogmouth nest Tawny Frogmouth

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Black-shouldered Kite Black-shouldered Kite Black-shouldered Kite Black-shouldered Kite Black-shouldered Kite

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Whistling Kite Whistling Kite (juvenile) Whistling Kite Whistling kite Whistling Kite
Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite
Whistling Kite Whistling Kites Whistling Kite Whistling Kites Whistling Kite
Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite Whistling Kite

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)

Swamp Harrier Swamp Harrier Swamp Harrier Swamp Harrier

Swamp Harrier Swamp Harrier Swamp Harrier Swamp Harrier

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Black Kite Black Kite Black Kite Black Kite

Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)

White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle

Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)

White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle White-bellied Sea-eagle

Adult Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Brahminy Kite Brahminy Kite Brahminy Kite Brahminy Kite Brahminy Kite Brahminy Kite

Juvenile Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Brahminy Kite (juvenile) Brahminy Kite (juvenile) Brahminy Kite (juvenile) Brahminy Kite (juvenile)

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)

Brown Goshawk Brown Goshawk
Brown Goshawk

Juvenile Grey Goshawk (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)

Juvenile Grey Goshawk Juvenile Grey Goshawk Juvenile Grey Goshawk Juvenile Grey Goshawk

Grey Goshawk (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)

Grey Goshawk Grey Goshawk Grey Goshawk

Black-shouldered Kite

1. Black-shouldered Kite

Black-shouldered Kite

2. Black shouldered Kite

Brown Goshawk

3. Brown Goshawk

Whistling Kite

4. Whistling Kite

White-bellied Sea-eagle

5. White-bellied Sea-eagle

Barn Owl

* 6. Barn Owl

Juvenile Osprey

* 7. Juvenile Osprey

Wedge-tailed Eagle

* 8. Sea Eagle (juv)

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

* 9. Juvenile Sea-eagle

Osprey chick

* 10. Female Osprey & chick

Swamp Harrier

* 11. Swamp Harrier

Osprey

* 12. Osprey (juvenile)

Osprey

* 13. Osprey (juvenile)

Osprey

* 14. Osprey

Wedge-tailed Eagle

* 15. Wedge-tailed Eagle

Brown Goshawk

* 16. Brown Goshawk

Barn Owl

* 17. Barn Owl

Brahminy Kite

* 18. Brahminy Kite

Pacific Baza Hawk

* 19. Pacific Baza Hawk

Barn Owl

* 20. Barn Owl

Osprey

* 21. Osprey

Osprey

* 22. Osprey

Brahminy Kite

*23. Brahminy Kite

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

* 24. White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Osprey

* 25. Osprey

Brahminy Kite

* 26. Brahminy Kite

Osprey

* 27. Osprey

Whistling Kites

* 28. Whistling Kites

Whistling Kite

* 29. Whistling Kite

Osprey

* 30. Osprey (male)

Black Kite

* 31. Black Kite

Male Osprey

* 32. Osprey

Juvenile Brahminy Kite

* 33. Juvenile Brahminy Kite

Osprey

* 34. Osprey

Nankeen Kestrel

* 35. Nankeen Kestrel

Sea Eagle (juvenile)

* 36. Sea Eagle (juvenile)

Osprey

* 37. Juvenile Osprey

Grey Goshawk

* 38. Grey Goshawk

Osprey

* 39. Juvenile Osprey

Spotted Harrier

* 40. Spotted Harrier

Brahminy Kite

* 41. Brahminy Kite

osprey family

* 42. Osprey Family

* 43. Australian Hobby

Baza Hawk (juvenile)

* 44. Baza Hawk (juvenile)

Osprey

* 45. Juvenile Osprey

Whistling Kite

* 46. Whistling Kite

Wedgetail Eagle

* 47. Wedgetail Eagle

Grey Goshawk

* 48. Grey Goshawk

Brahminy Kites

* 49. Brahminy Kite

Osprey

* 50. Osprey

Osprey

* 51. Osprey

Swamp Harrier

* 52. Swamp Harrier

Osprey

* 53. Osprey

Black-shouldered Kite

* 54. Whistling Kite

Osprey female

* 55. Osprey (female)

Osprey

* 56. Osprey male

Pacific Bazza Hawk

* 57. Pacific Baza Hawk

Whistling Kite

* 58. Whistling Kite

Black-shouldered Kite

* 59. Black-shouldered Kite

Osprey

* 60. Osprey (male)

Brahminy Kite

* 61. Brahminy Kite

Osprey

* 62. Osprey

Osprey female

* 63. Osprey & chick

* 64. Osprey

Brahminy Kite

* 65. Brahminy Kite

Barn Owl

* 66. Barn Owl

Wedge-tailed Eagles

* 67. Sea-Eagles (juv)

Osprey

* 68. Osprey

Barn Owl

* 69. Barn Owl

White-bellied Sea-eagle

* 70. Sea-eagle

Tawny Frogmouth, Barking, Rufous and Barn Owls

Barn Owl

* 1. Barn Owl

Tawny Frogmouth

* 2. Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth

* 3. Tawny Frogmouth

Barking Owl

* 4. Barking Owl

Rufous Owl

* 5. Rufous Owl

Tawny Frogmouth

* 6. Tawny Frogmouth

Barn Owl

* 7. Barn Owl

* 8. Tawny Frogmouths

Tawny Frogmouth

* 9. Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth

* 10. Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth

* 6. Tawny Frogmouth

Barking Owl

* 7. Barking Owl

Barn Owl

* 8. Barn Owl

Tawny Frogmouth

* 9. Tawny Frogmouths

Tawny Frogmouths

* 10. Tawny Frogmouths

Tawny Frogmouth

* 11. Tawny Frogmouth

Barking Owl

* 12. Barking Owl

Tawny Frogmouth

* 13. Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth

* 14. Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth

* 15. Tawny Frogmouth