Today not far from my house I saw a white bird of prey gliding around in circles quite high up but don't kknow what it would have been - a kestrel maybe? the local lorikeet brigade took exception to it anyway and came en masse to challenge it and send it on it's way to another feeding ground. It was great to witness
Cheers
Birdie
It may have been a grey goshawk.
I think there is a white morph.
Just a guess on my part.
Hi Birdie
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I am with SteveHapp re the Grey Goshawk suggestion.
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Other small or medium birds of prey which appear "white" tend not to circle, as you described. Black-shouldered Kite is a sitter on high vantage points, or a hoverer (flapping hard to stay still in the air). I am excluding Sea Eagles and Osprey from this discussion.
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Have a look at my post on Grey Goshawks here:
http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2007/09/grey-skies-and-grey-goshawk.html
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I wrote: "I also saw a Grey Goshawk then, circling high. Not a good photo, but it is distinctive with the round tail, wide grey wings, and large white body. The Grey Goshawk is a classic bird of the rainforest, so Clover Hill Falls is absolutely classic habitat for this bird."
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I am nor sure how far you would be from dense timbered country which is the true home of a Grey Goshawk, but like all medium and large raptors, they can move easily over large distances, in a matter of minutes.
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As you will see in my photo, although there are large patches of grey (wings and tail) the thing one notices first is the white abdomen. Thus the impression created is of a white bird.
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That and the "circling" habit fit beautifully. Incidentally, when not circling, this bird behaves as a normal Goshawk, darting around at tree-top height, scaring birds into their last fatal flight! They are "bird specialists" (in terms of their prey), which is why your Lorikeets gave it a chase. Rabbits are a great bonus on occasions, but strong wings and rounded tail allow them great agility in chasing other birds. Very powerful too.
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Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Thanks so much Steve and Denis.
You are absolutely right, as the thing I noticed apart from its colour and circling pattern was its tail which was a definite fan shaped semi circle. I too thought it was a cocky at first as we get a few around here. I live in wooded and semi rainforest area, which is near to a large sanctuary of rainforest so it all fits perfectly.
I have never seen one around my home before but I am learning as the seasons change that different birds frequent the area. At the moment it seems to be full of black faced cuckoo shrikes.
This is the area around my home, where I walk in the mornings and see all my birds.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
If I was a Grey Goshawk, I would check out that patch of scrub for a lazy Cuckoo-Shrike-Burger.
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Fan-shaped tail is spot on - with the rest of the description.
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It was Steve who first suggested it, and I happened to have an appropriate image I could link to.
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Nice to score well, every now and then, Birdie.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Fantastic blog post, Dennis.
birdie, your bird is probably not a white morph as it does not seem to be in your area, as described in this quote from biby..
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"The Grey Goshawk is found in coastal areas in northern and eastern Australia. The white morph is predominant in the more open forests of north-western Australia and coastal Victoria and is the only form found in Tasmania. The grey morph is more common in the thicker, sub-tropical forests of the east coast."
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http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/180
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cheers,
steve
Thanks Steve.
Our local birds are definitely NOT the white form.
I saw one, once, in the Otway Ranges. Pure white. Stunning bird.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com