Good spot: it was 2 or 3 arms lengths away on a short bush on the side of the road at eye level. It refused to move as we drove past slowly, but instead chose to squeal at us. Very very cool experience, as they are one of my favourite raptors. Got to love those red eyes.
And I only posted my better pics of birds!! There were lots lots more. Get yourself down there ASAP while you have a chance of seeing orange bellied parrots.
Check the pic of the brown falcon on the road and note the quality of the road. That is what it looked like with bright skies and no rain for the preceding 4 days. No way you want to be there when it's muddy.
Has this species taken advantage of modern agriculture? Its close cousin, Black-winged Kite, was quite a common sight on telegraph wires in Egypt overlooking cotton and rice fields when I was there in 2000.
Has this species taken advantage of modern agriculture? Its close cousin, Black-winged Kite, was quite a common sight on telegraph wires in Egypt overlooking cotton and rice fields when I was there in 2000.
I would say yes. I see them very regularly on the side of the freeway or hovering above the strip of grass between freeways, as well as in farmers' fields to the west of Melbourne.
