Bird of the Week: 18th February - raptors

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Holly
Holly's picture
Bird of the Week: 18th February - raptors

Wow what an amazing week of photos last week. I am incredibly jealous that you all can go out photographing birds so often! cool For someone who runs a bird program, I don't go out watching birds very often anymore sad

 

Anyway, back on topic. Lets see raptor photos this week - any raptor will do. I have a great stretch of freeway near my house that often has Black-shouldered kites, occasionally a Nankeen Kestrel and what I am sure is a pair of Swamp Harriers (I haven't been game enough to pull over on the freeway with my binos to check).

 

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Here is one Black-shouldered Kite for you Holly. Enjoy. I know the feeling of not being able to stop without risking your life. I passed a Brown Falcon almost every day for weeks, but no way could I have stopped anywherecrying

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Outstanding shots M-L, i could see them on the cover of a magazine or booksmiley

I don't have any good shots of Raptors yet, i think i know what i'll be doing this weekendwink

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Just in case i can't get out this weekend i'll post these old shots.


Brahminy Kite-2038 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


Brahminy Kite-2040 by rawshorty, on Flickr 

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi Shorty, you said:

I don't have any good shots of Raptors yet, i think i know what i'll be doing this weekendwink

hmmm, what do you think these are? I wish I could take photos like thatblush, mine are more NMO  (non- moving- objects)blush

M-L

Teresa Skerratt
Teresa Skerratt's picture

i will post these photos Geoff and I took the other day, they were taken from a long long way away so have been cropped but they are still beautiful I think ...well 1 photo the others exceeded allowed KB

Teresa Skerratt

Gardens for Birds Bees and Butterflies

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

@M-L...I am very critical of my own photos( maybe to hard on myself?) I prefer a shot to be good straight out of the camera but the kite shots needed serious processing so to me there not good, anyway i caught what i think is a Nankeen Kestrel today, lighting was bad but these two turned out ok.


nankeen kestrel-8233 by rawshorty, on Flickr 


nankeen kestrel-8208 by rawshorty, on Flickr

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Araminta
Araminta's picture

I love the nankeen kestrel. Almost looks as if he is building a nest on top of the street light. Did he carry that stick up there?

(I'm with you on liking my photos the way they come from the camera. But I'm a technophobeblush)

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

M-L, i was driving at the time when i saw him with the stick and a (i think) large insect, i assume he grabbed the stick while grabbing the insect. He was eating it as i parked the car and grabbed my camera.

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Another couple of old pics. Whistling Kite


Whistling Kite by rawshorty, on Flickr 


Whistling Kite-2054 by rawshorty, on Flickr 

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

cassie.c87
cassie.c87's picture

I love all these shots! I hardly get to even see a raptor and if I do it's from a distance I can only just make it out, I guess these will fill that void :)

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t post a photo taken at Healesville Sanctuary. But seeing not many BOP have been posted, except for Shorty’s and Tersa's beautiful photos, I might . They do fly a Wedge-tailed Eagle, so, here he is. Enjoy.

M-L

WendyK
WendyK's picture

Ospreys (including two different man-made nesting sites - 1st pair had 1 chick and the 2nd raised 3 chicks) and Black Winged Kite (these are just too pretty).

Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

I have posted this before but it is the best shot of wedges i have for now ( i'm determined to get some close ups)


Wedgetail-6680 by rawshorty, on Flickr

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

pacman
pacman's picture

rawshorty wrote:

I have posted this before but it is the best shot of wedges i have for now ( i'm determined to get some close ups)


shorty
I have seen more White-bellied Sea Eagle than WTE
these look like WBSE to me, I would even suggest that they are 2nd year birds

Peter

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Not sure what i was thinking Peter, the colours show that they are not wedges. Thanks for setting me straight.
This one however is a Wedge-Tail


wedgetail-8277 by rawshorty, on Flickr

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Teresa Skerratt
Teresa Skerratt's picture

This was shot on the 22/02 dodging road trains at the time ....we birders take put our lives at risk more that people realise i think !!

Teresa Skerratt

Gardens for Birds Bees and Butterflies

Woko
Woko's picture

Lovely to see a picture of a wedge-tailed eagle in its natural habitat, Teresa.

Teresa Skerratt
Teresa Skerratt's picture

Hi Woko, because we do mainly field watching and photogralphy we see lots and get some great shot, but stopping with out having a road train run over the top of us, getting the gear set up and getting the shots is a true challange, however we have some beautiful shots of birds of all kinds that are not perfect photographic wise, especially for geoff who is a perfectionist, but they are awesome non the less..

Teresa Skerratt

Gardens for Birds Bees and Butterflies

Roly
Roly's picture

raptor |ˈraptə|
noun
a bird of prey

bird of prey
noun
a bird that feeds on animal flesh


OK, so here's my 'raptor' - I found this vicious, animal-eating bird in my backyard! laugh

(I couldn't get the pic to post last week so I hope I'm not too late!!!!)

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