"What's that Dad?" She does seem to have the knack of recognising something a bit different. We had a five second view, in flight, before the trees of the bushy Silverleaves area obscured the view. It was enough for Hannah and I to leave the group and backtrack. We were rewarded with further views.
I'm not great with raptors but I am now able to state in the field several birds that this was not and that did leave Australian Hobby. Cropping and enhancing images of this dark, fast-flying, smallish bird didn't result in pictures of any great quality but did leave no doubt about the ID.
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| Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis - I do wonder about that scientific name*) |
Trees - you gotta love 'em but gee they can get in the way!
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| Then .... close to focussed just before passing behind an electricity pole! |
I visited the lookout at the end of McIllwraith's Rd, Rhyll which allows views of the Observation Point spit. This is the politically correct way of viewing the shorebirds that visit - which is OK as long as you are not planning on identifying any of them.
I believe the dots below will include godwits, terns (caspian and crested), a sizeable group of Pied oystercatcher, a few eastern curlew. Some even smaller specks belie the presence of Red-necked stint. A few extra large dots represent a couple of lads who have jumped off the family boat identifying the shallow waters surrounding the protected spit as a great place for a rollick.
* From Debus' Birds of Prey of Australia:
The specific name ('long feather') alludes to the long wings (primary feathers).
Bird on!
