Hi Guys,
Firstly, sorry for the quality of these. I was busy watching a Sea Eagle when this one swooshed overhead, and did a quick lap before disappearing.
Bird was located at Chambers Flat - south of Brisbane. The area is around a river, but it's mostly cattle pastures around the area.
Any ideas?
Looking at the banding on the wings, the shape of the head and length of tail i would say Swamp Harrier.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
It looks a bit ratty around the edges. I wonder if it has been in a fight with something recently?
Wouldn't it be more likely to be a goshawk/sparrowhawk, with the fine barring on the wings?
Maybe immature Brown Goshawk?
I wondered about that too (the fight) - the park where I saw this is home to a family of Black Shouldered Kites, and there was a sea eagle flying around while I was there. From memory there have been past sightings of other raptors as well, so it's a definite possibility.
Had another look through the photos I got, and found another one which might be helpful, that I missed the first time.
The barring makes me pretty sure it is an immature Goshawk or Sparrowhawk. Although, perhaps the wings curve a bit too much and in the wrong places to be accountable for damage?
However, I'm still not sure which one- the pair are nigh on impossible to separate.
The general size and shape of it suggests (to me) Goshawk, but is there any chance you could post a closer crop of just the head?
When I get home tonight I'll see what I can do.
I'd say a 2012 Gos or Spar, leaning towards a moulting Gos
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
About as good a crop as I can get.
Wish it had stuck around for a bit longer
Thanks for the assist guys. :)
Collared Sparrowhawk from me.
Not sure whether this adds anything - from looking at the various descriptions I have the options, I can't make a definite assertion. I was down at the same park on Monday afternoon, and saw what I believe to be the same raptor circling around carrying a snake (roughly 2-3ft long) in its talons. It was quite overcast, and unfortunately it was a long way off over the river, so the photos I took don't really add anything to the ones I already posted.
Not sure if the snake would help eliminate any possibilities.
Definitely a mouling hawk and I would suggest Brown Goshawk after seeing the closer head shots. I will ask Steve Debus for help with this one.