Weird bird

[gemfyre]

There is a raptor I've been seeing over Narrogin recently that looks for all things like a bloody Osprey.

But we're 200km inland here and there isn't a large water body for about as far.

I'm just wondering what the hell it IS.

Comments

[imalegend.livejournal.com]

You sure it's not an eagle surviving off road kill?

Any bird rehab facilities near your way?

[gemfyre.livejournal.com]

There are plenty of Wedge-tailed eagles around the place, this bird has the wrong tail and wing shape to be one of them.

The closest to the shape would be a Brown Falcon (also common around here), but they don't soar.

It's possibly a Whistling Kite or Little Eagle, but I've never been able to look at it long enough to confirm anything. The first time I saw it there were large white patches on the wings and that and it's general shape made me immediately think "osprey!" even though that's near on impossible here. But on second and third looks I've had the same impression (I got pretty familiar with various raptors while I was in Broome). It's weird.

[imalegend.livejournal.com]

Lots of birdies in Broome. I was most happy when I saw a sea eagle when up there.

Could it be a juvenile given the whole weird seasons we've been having, breeding cycles of particular animals have been affected?

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

White "windows" in the wings, is that on the underside? There's a raptor that's diagnostic for, can't find me bird book...um...yeah Whistling Kite.

Immature birds can be deceptive, the scruffy things.

Mind you, don't discount an Osprey. If its got the same tail, wing and behaviour as an Osprey...you might be onto something new. You've got that big lake filled up recently, I wonder if Ospreys will go for freshater fish?