Last season, we managed to meet a pair of Brown Falcon working on the Werribee Riverine.
Had high hopes for them at the time that they might nest locally. I didn’t share here on the blog until I was sure, but they ended up working away. So i posted a few encounters on Flickr.
The birds had been working in a part of the Park that was at that time closed for repairs to a bridge and tracks caused by a flood about 18 months before. So the Browns had been able to enjoy a human-free environment.
The other intrigue is that both birds were light morph. The male particularly has a lovely underwing scalloped feather marking. The female, also is quite distinctive as her eye teardrops extend under her beak.
EE and I had been to a local event and decided to take a ‘quick’ walk down along the river. No cameras of course. As we came to the river we saw two Falcons hard at work hovering in the wind. They both landed close enough for us to get good views and we were sure it was Sally and Harry.
Did I mention no cameras. Out came the ‘fones. To no avail really.
We were back a few days later, good weather and cameras ready.
We spotted Sally on a post at the top of the river cliff. And decided to follow up the walking ramp to see if we could get close.
As we reached the top of the ramp, Harry flew in, and landed on the handrail not more than about 10 metres in front of us.
Freeze
If we moved would he fly?
Freeze.
He looked over the rail onto the escarpment below, and it was obvious that he had something in mind. There is no telling Brown Falcon time. It is a slow pace, and he wouldn’t strike until he was sure of the move.
We waited.
After a few minutes, a second set of wings appeared behind the railing and Sally dropped in, either encourage him, or to move him on. They set together for a few seconds and then he left. Flying far out over the river flat.
There is no doubt both birds knew we were there. In fact the longer we all stood there the more obvious it became that, not only did they see us, but they were not in the least fussed as they had more important Falcon business to attend to.
She watched. And after what seemed like 10 minutes, suddenly she wasn’t there. She had dropped straight down from the rail and began to consume her catch. It was so fast, that I missed it completely.
The riverine is a large are, with many old trees and some farmland behind. If they choose to nest in the area, its unlikely we’ll find where.
However it was good to be so close to these very impressive birds
(Click on any image for a larger view)
Enjoy
Note the wings coming behind.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Wonderful that you were able to observe Harry and Sally at close quarters, David!
Both are fine looking birds and it is a pleasure to view your images!
Perhaps you will get to see more of them!
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Hi David,
Can’t recall ever seeing a pair of white-morph. I did originally ponder that they might have been siblings. Until he started bring in food, and she looked like she had plans to nest locally.
In the end, lost track of them both until just recently
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Great encounter and very fine shots, David. It’s amazing how close they were.
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Hello Adam,
That they both flew in so close, and then sat without feeling threatened was indeed a great experience.
I’ve come to notice that some Browns are completely human-intolerant. Others seem to just accept our presence
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Beautiful captures David as always. I love the light blue sky background setting for this series. You were blessed to have had that time alone with them trusting you both knowing you were friends. It is always a joy when the birds start trusting, I find this with our birdbath birds which will wash in our nearby presence. Our young owlet has been moved away by its parents possibly to the other side of the creek where it is more private and away from prying humans. Numbers of birders around the nest now zero. Have an enjoyable week as this unusually warm early spring weather persists.
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Hello Ashley,
The softish light is because of an early morning mist. As we climbed the walking path, we managed to get above it, but the mist did desaturate the colours a little.
A pity that while people want to get a view of your owl, that it gets to an overcrowding position.
Our Barking Owl is still in the area, but not always in local residence. The areas that were trampled so heavily early in the year are beginning to recover.
Hope the little one grows well now it is out of reach.
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Wonderful shots David. I do hope they stay in the area and you are able to spend more time in their presence. It must be a special experience to be accepted by these beautiful birds.
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Hello Eleanor,
Thanks for stopping by. No doubt they will be in the area, but there are so many areas that they could settle that it might be impossible to know what they do. It seems that the hunting in the long grass along the Riverine is in good supply.
I do have a theory that some Browns are not tolerant of humans at all, while others are prepared to ignore us if we don’t get too close.
I think people make the mistake of spotting a Brown on a fence, and then trying to ‘sneak’ up on it. It will have had a reason for sitting on that post, and generally waiting for it to move will reveal its intent. But Brown Falcon time is much different to the way us humans think.
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