Raptors

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 unknowledgeable, 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.

September, the start of spring, and there's some beautiful raptors about. The Belongil Estuary Osprey are breeding and the female sits on the nest with the chick/chicks while the male fishes for them. He is often sitting on the pole opposite wolfing down a huge fish while his partner cries and cries at him. He flies over when there's a morsel left and she gives it to the chick. I'm assuming he needs all his energy to keep fishing all day and he's an excellent fisherman. Sometimes he flies straight in and gives the fish to her.

It's July again & the Osprey have a tiny chocolate brown chick, so probably around 10 days old. The male is flying fish in around the clock and being far more generous. I've changed my opinion of last year and think they're a well matched pair and completely know exactly what they're doing.

At the West Byron Wetlands the Swamp Harriers reign supreme but currently there's a Whistling Kite that gives them a run for their money. I did see him today being harrassed 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 are fast enough!

After a lot of time walking around our local area I've worked out where some pairs of raptors nest and hang out. Often they pair for life or until one of the pair die. I've spent much time standing in a little creek at Belongil photographing an Osprey pair (Pandion haliaetus), absolutely amazing to watch their behaviour. For example when the female is on the nest, she rarely leaves it so the male does the fishing. He comes back around the same time each morning and perches opposite here and eats most of a huge fish, while she cries. Only when there's a little bit left does he fly over and give her and the chick (if they've breeded successfully) what's left. I can only assume he needs a lot of energy to fish, hence his apparent pigginess. I've also spent a lot of time photographing a pair of Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides). They are perched in a suburban street, just above eye level, but hardly anyone notices they're there. They lazily open their eyes and look at me like 'oh you again', close their eyes and put their nose up in the air, in their best 'I am a branch' fashion. They often perch very close to each other in a spot where they get the most of the winter sun.