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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. 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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 Click on images for a larger viewing version! |
Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)
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Grey Goshawk, White Morph form - (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)
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Juvenile Grey Goshawk (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)
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Young Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) & Crows fighting over food
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Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster) - Breeding display
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Tawny Frogmouth with two chicks Neptune 4 & Neptune 5 (2015)
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Tawny Frogmouth with juvenile named Neptune 111 (2014)
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Young Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
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Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)
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Tawny Frogmouth family (Podargus strigoides)
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Tawny Frogmouth with juvenile named Neptune the 2nd 2013 (Podargus strigoides)
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Tawny Frogmouth with juvenile named Neptune 2012 (Podargus strigoides)
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Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)
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Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)
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Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)
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Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides)
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Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
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Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
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Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
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Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
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Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
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Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)
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Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster)
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Adult Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
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Juvenile Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
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Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
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Juvenile Grey Goshawk (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)
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Grey Goshawk (Accipiter Novaehollandiae)
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1. Black-shouldered Kite |
2. Black shouldered Kite |
3. Brown Goshawk |
4. Whistling Kite |
5. White-bellied Sea-eagle |
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* 6. Barn Owl |
* 7. Juvenile Osprey |
* 8. Sea Eagle (juv) |
* 9. Juvenile Sea-eagle |
* 10. Female Osprey & chick |
* 11. Swamp Harrier |
* 12. Osprey (juvenile) |
* 13. Osprey (juvenile) |
* 14. Osprey |
* 15. Wedge-tailed Eagle |
* 16. Brown Goshawk |
* 17. Barn Owl |
* 18. Brahminy Kite |
* 19. Pacific Baza Hawk |
* 20. Barn Owl |
* 21. Osprey |
* 22. Osprey |
*23. Brahminy Kite |
* 24. White-bellied Sea-Eagle |
* 25. Osprey |
* 26. Brahminy Kite |
* 27. Osprey |
* 28. Whistling Kites |
* 29. Whistling Kite |
* 30. Osprey (male) |
* 31. Black Kite |
* 32. Osprey |
* 33. Juvenile Brahminy Kite |
* 34. Osprey |
* 35. Nankeen Kestrel |
* 36. Sea Eagle (juvenile) |
* 37. Juvenile Osprey |
* 38. Grey Goshawk |
* 39. Juvenile Osprey |
* 40. Spotted Harrier |
* 41. Brahminy Kite |
* 42. Osprey Family |
* 43. Australian Hobby |
* 44. Baza Hawk (juvenile) |
* 45. Juvenile Osprey |
* 46. Whistling Kite |
* 47. Wedgetail Eagle |
* 48. Grey Goshawk |
* 49. Brahminy Kite |
* 50. Osprey |
* 51. Osprey |
* 52. Swamp Harrier |
* 53. Osprey |
* 54. Whistling Kite |
* 55. Osprey (female) |
* 56. Osprey male |
* 57. Pacific Baza Hawk |
* 58. Whistling Kite |
* 59. Black-shouldered Kite |
* 60. Osprey (male) |
* 61. Brahminy Kite |
* 62. Osprey |
* 63. Osprey & chick |
* 64. Osprey |
* 65. Brahminy Kite |
* 66. Barn Owl |
* 67. Sea-Eagles (juv) |
* 68. Osprey |
* 69. Barn Owl |
* 70. Sea-eagle |
* 1. Barn Owl |
* 2. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 3. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 4. Barking Owl |
* 5. Rufous Owl |
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* 6. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 7. Barn Owl |
* 8. Tawny Frogmouths |
* 9. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 10. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 6. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 7. Barking Owl |
* 8. Barn Owl |
* 9. Tawny Frogmouths |
* 10. Tawny Frogmouths |
* 11. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 12. Barking Owl |
* 13. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 14. Tawny Frogmouth |
* 15. Tawny Frogmouth |
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