With a touch of sunshine, and a free morning, EE and I decided it was time to followup on a lead we’d been given about the possibility of a Little Eagle’s nest along the Werribee River.
Now it was hardly an expedition that would rival Bourke and Wills, or even the great Major Thomas Mitchell. It was more likely the ‘expotition’ of Winnie the Pooh in search for the North Pole.
Still any day out with good weather, good company and a flask of the good Earl’s finest, was looking better than another locked down day in our four walls.
We set off to find that the access gate we were hoping to use was locked, and as Arlo Guthie sings, “With a big chain, and a lock and a sign saying “Closed for Covid”.” (Alice’s Restaurant)
So off to plan B. Not sure Bourke and Wills and certainly not Pooh Bear, ever had a plan B.
We parked and walked in. Well it was a sunny day.
And just as well, for to be honest. If there was a Little Eagle’s nest along the roadway I missed it. And if EE missed it, well, it wasn’t there. If it had been in Argentina, she would have spotted it anyway. It is a 6th Sense, or at least borders on some kind of extra-sensory perception.
However as we walked the track, what came to visit us was several squadrons of Black and Whistling Kites. First just a few but as quickly as we could count the numbers grew to about twenty five birds filling the sky.
Among some of the interest was a Black Kite that had a rabbit carcass tucked up, and was not giving it up for any of its ‘friends’.
And a bit of an aerial duel between some Black and Whistling Kites.
Next several Ravens decided that having so many free-loaders in their nesting area was not going to happen and another battle ensued.
A good day out for with some bonus Australian Hobby secrets discovered as well, but that is certainly for another post.
Enjoy.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
I’m sitting here green with envy! So many raptors, and so many wonderful images. Lovely work David.
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Hello Eleanor, it was indeed a bit of a surprise as the past few months have been quite bereft of the larger kites
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Great to see the Kites, David! Now we know where they have all gone!
A terrific series of images! Great that you were out n about in the sunshine.
Looking out the window this morning I am wishing I could get out in the glorious sunshine today!
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Yes, its been a interesting couple of months. No reason I can think of, but we certainly haven’t seen then in any great numbers for quite awhile.
I know they are nomadic, so perhaps these ones were just on an excursion along the coast. Time will tell
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Plan B certainly gave you both a good find David, to see so many raptors in one walk. Your wife is a great spotter like your wife especially helpful with my diminishing sight. You caught some great images. The last time we saw so many Black and Whistling Kite together was on a beach at Robuck Bay in Broome. 🙂
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Hi Ashley,
It is impressive to see them in big numbers. What I find even more interesting is to watch their interactions in the air and also their abilities to soar and turn.
The Whistlers make use of a smaller thin tail, while the Blacks are able to spread out the tail and seem to use it like an oar.
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I am back from my day out and I feel happy for you having your Raptors Day. This could only happen in your part of the World and having a Plan B always helps. Actually I also could speak of “raptors day” in Braeside, yet without such great photographic result like yours. For the first time in my life I saw two Swamp Harriers and a Brown Falcon cruising high (too high) together and having some sort of a competition, they only knew what it was all about. I couldn’t help myself and documented the event just for my records. Later on another pair of Swamp Harriers appeared, but I’m not so sure if it was really “another”. It’s great to hear that EE (formerly known as #kneetoo) can execute plans B with you, even if the Little Eagle moved to the North Pole for now. I did not comment on your last three Saturday Evening Posts but I did took them in as I’m always with you , moving slightly behind as an echo of your own shadow, seizing your thoughts, as I go.
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Hi Adam, I think we’ve all had lots of planB and Plan C and Plan D the last few months. So much has simply gotten by us.
We aren’t finished with the Little Eagle search just yet, but might have to re-evaluate the ‘headsup info’.
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Great story and backup images. Always nice to be included in their daily fun. Definitely good to be out.
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Hi Mark, not a bad day to be out, plenty of sunshine, plenty of birds and not supermarket queues.
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Woohooo! 25…what a day!
Clancy
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Greeting Clancy..
A bit of a special day. Its been a long time since we’ve had any good sighting of the bigger kites
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