Brown Falcon – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST

From the Field Notebook: Surrounded

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025Posted in Brown Falcon12 Comments

Over the years it’s possible to discern the differences in the calls of Australian Magpies. What the language means of course remains a mystery, but some sounds go with some actions.

The rolling call of a pair declaring their territory against all comers. The short sharp bark of a a contact call between birds feeding on the ground, just to stay in touch and know where everyone is. Alarm calls for the close immediate family, and a different one for local clans, and a different one again to warn other local clans of danger. No doubt there are plenty more.

One call, I’m certain is distinct and the other day as we walked up the hill to iAmGrey to packup and head for home, the stark-highpitched agitated call went up from at first the Maggies in the local area, and then rolling down the field to others. I’ve heard it before, and exclaimed to noone in particular, “”Brown Falcon”.
And as I turned around, not to check for Falcons, but to see where the Maggies were going, there on a lone tree propped a Brown Falcon. The family took off to harass it, and get it on the move.
Brown Sat.
Mum, Dad and a young juvenile made lots of loud calls and swooping attemps.
Brown Sat.

The call went out to the next clan, and sure enough suddenly the hapless Falcon had five more loud, angry Magpies sitting the tree, calling and swooping. I sometimes wonder if there is not a bragging rights thing that goes on. “Oh, I got it to move”. “I put its wings up” “I was ‘this’ close” etc etc.
Brown Sat.

By now the air around the Falcon was full of loud calling angry black and white feathered shapes.
The Falon didn’t have much option. If it flew, the combined squadron would have had the advantage of speed and agility and it would have been mobbed all the way across the open paddock. Clans that were not directly involved were now spaced out along the paddock, supposedly uninterested, as they pretended to be really interested in meal gathering, but should the Falcon head in their direction, they would have been ready to rise to the challenge and add to the clamour, and so on to the next clan, and the next.
Brown Sat.

We figured at least three possibiliies.
1. Brown had just finished a meal and was in no hurry to fly anywhere until it was digested.
2. Brown had spied some tasty morsel worth waiting for, and was going to sit until the right moment to pounce
3. Brown had no other option than to sit. Flying into such a concentration of Magpie angst could have serious consquences.
Brown Sat.

Brown Falcon time is really impressive. 30-40 minutes on one location is not unusual.
In the end, the clans exhausted themselves, and left the scene.
Brown, now only had a photographer in the paddock to worry about. So it did what is pretty usual. It pretened to be unconcerned about the whole affair and began to preen.

I waited another 10 minutes.
Brown Sat.

Other activities required my attention, so we left. As we drove out, it was still on the branch.

Enjoy.

Saturday Evening Post: Sky Dancing

September 21, 2024Posted in Brown Falcon, Saturday Evening PostTagged Brown Falcon, Saturday Evening Post5 Comments

Was doing a google search t’other day and as usual managed to get lots of info, most of it—irrelevant to my original enquiry. That I should have been surprised.

It was a simple question about how far can you see to the horizon. I live on the Western Victorian Lava Plains. The plains extend 350 km east-west. So I was wondering as I stand in the open paddock on flat ground, how far can I see in all directions. Seems the general consensus is around 5km. Mind my ophthalmologist will tell you at that distance most of what I see would be pretty blurry.

Why, no doubt you are wondering, and what bought this inquisitiveness on?

Sky Dancing

The area in which I was standing is part of the territory of a pair of Brown Falcon. As she prepares for a nesting season, they tend to spend a lot of time sky dancing. Pursing one another across the sky with much calling and aerial displays.

This pair are mostly human intolerant (Me too!) so getting close is no easy matter.

The winds have been high for the past couple of weeks, and on this day there were gusts of 50kph or more. The strong winds seems to give the birds an extra enthusiasm. Standing in the open paddock it was easy to see them scoot across the sky, from horizon to horizon.
If you’ve never seen or heard a pair of Brown Falcons pair-bonding, I’d hope one day you can. It is accomplished with lots of aerial antics and much raucous calling.

From where we stood we are able to see them sweep across the entire sky. So quickly and so far that sometimes they disappeared from sight. It was humbling to see these birds flash back and forth covering several kilometres either side of where I stood in mere seconds. It would take me 15 minutes to walk back to IamGrey in the carpark.

They also were working quite high up, so any photos I made really are at a distance. These may not be the most useful pics I’ve made, but worth sharing.

Lots of flying close together, quite a few times one or the other was flipped upside down or even one on top of the other with only metres seperation. They were so fast on the wind, and so high that the normal harassment by Magpies and others just couldn’t get started. Even if a Maggie had made her best vertical ascent, the Falcons would have been a kilometre or more away by the time she got anywhere near to the height.

In the end they disappeared to a tree-line way down the range, and perhaps that is where this year’s clutch will take place. Time, will tell

Saturday Evening Post: A Hint of Spring

August 10, 2024August 10, 2024Posted in Brown Falcon, Digicam Adelaide, Saturday Evening PostTagged Saturday Evening Post5 Comments

We have, to say the least, had some very cold days, (and nights) the past few weeks.

It’s made venturing out in the field a little less desirable, and being able to turnover, and pull the doona up bit without a conscience possible.

And besides my 500mm PF lens has been in hospital, and I’ve been doing make-shift with a variety of other lenses. Good side to that too. I’ve become reacquainted with the 300mm f/2.8. Yes, its heavy, yes, tis hard to work with in the field, but oh, oh oh, those dreamy smooth backgrounds and crisp sharp details. Nothing there to complain about.

The 500mm PF has been in the capable hands of the team at Digicam in Adelaide
They have been keeping me updated with progress reports, including the news that the parts needed were coming from overseas, and a bit of a delay might be expected.
So it was pretty exciting to get a note saying the parts would be available and the repair expedited.
Then advice with a delivery note from StarTrek,
“Sing Ho for the Life of a Bear,
Sing Ho for the Life of a Bear,
I don’t mind much if it rains or snows,”
and a text message to say “Delivery Today”, and…
It was.
Can’t ask more than that.

Sadly the next couple of days were cloudy, damp and not conducive to really in-depth lens testing.
Not that I was going to line-up lens charts, software and the like.
No. Just shoot the comms disk on the tower across the road, and look at the result. So I plugged the lens on to our spare D500—the main camera now had the 300 f/2.8— and out I went. Took a bit of fiddling to get the right lens correction dialled in and in the end I swapped out the cameras and the old workhorse needed about a minus 8 correction. (-8)
Happy with that, the following day was one of those out of the box days that End–of-Winter/Almost-Spring can deliver. Delivery Sunshine. No wind. Crisp on the Grass.
All I needed to do now was to find some birds.

The beach was empty. Devoid. Vacant. Still. Alone. Bereft. Not a feather to be seen.
A pair of nesting Ravens, and little else.
No beginner’s luck here.

We walked back to IamGrey and as we did, way across the open bracken field, I saw a lone shape in the air.
A Brown Falcon. (I hope my ophthalmologist reads this) I reckon at about 600m
And closing across the field.
It was the male of the local pair. He swung a few loops over our heads in the sunshine and it gave me a chance to really see what the lens could do.
Result. Thanks to Digicam, it’s back to normal, and working as expected on the D500. That is—It’s sharp.

Sitting in IamGrey having a quick cuppa of the Grey of Earl, a number of Fairywrens came out to dance about the dried grass stalks.
And I was able to get some closeups that showed that smooth creamy background that long lenses can produce. Not quite the dreamy soft of the f2.8. But we takes what we can. 🙂

Big shout out to Digicam for the fast and efficient service and for StarTrek for an on-time delivery.

He was making a wide circling turn. Perhaps looking for a thermal. It gave me a wonderful view of that spread on the tail-feathers

Mr Handsome showing off his new Spring Dress to impress the ladies.
Even the PF can produce soft backgrounds

And the Header Image is another Falcon I found late in the afternoon. It didn’t want to sit for portraits.

Enjoy.

Saturday Evening Post: The Variations of Colour

April 13, 2024April 13, 2024Posted in Brown Falcon, Saturday Evening PostTagged Brown Falcon, Saturday Evening Post8 Comments

If you assemble a group of half a dozen birders together and ask a question about bird id, you’ll likely get about 10 or more different answers.

Birds don’t make it easy. Some have unusual juvenile plumage and are easy to spot. Some don’t. Some differ between breeding and non-breeding plumage (Consider the Red-necked Stint, it’s most unusual in Australia to see them fully coloured up rich red).

Discussions begin about the intricacies of variation in moult patterns, in feeding styles, of nesting and a whole range of features and characteristics.
Discussion also turns to cover all sorts of anecdotal material, and some wise birders seem to be able to determine not only the sex of every bird, but on which side of the tree the nest was on.
It’s enough for the beginner to shake their head and wander away thinking, “I only wanted to know if it was a Sparrow or an Emu!”

Most birds don’t have a wide variation of plumage so its pretty easy to settle on what a Little Pied Cormorant looks like, and why it’s not to be id’d as a Australian Pied Cormorant. Or, some are distinctive enough, think Laughing Kookaburra, as to not be easily confused.

But when it comes to Brown Falcons

This past week my Flickr and WP friend Eleanor, had made a trip to the Western Treatment Plant, and photographed a bird which, at first blush looked like a Nankeen Kestrel. It certainly started some conversation around my group of birders.

Browns are birds of the open plains and open forests.
As the text books say, “Brown bird with a variable plumage.” Which is where the problems of id begin to surface.
And variable is what seems to make id complicated sometimes.

Browns can vary from dark chocolate brown, through a marbling light brown on white, to white chests and underwings.
At a distance, a light morph Brown is easily mistaken for a Nankeen Kestrel

Here are three that show some of the variations. All of these are local birds that I’ve come across in the past couple of years.

See. “With variations”
Here is one that is similar, (if not the same bird, but I’m only guessing) that Eleanor found

For a greater discussion there is an interesting PDF file from the publication, The Emu 2003.
Much of the research was made at the Western Treatment Plant.

And here is a lovely cover of an old Gould League of Victoria publication with paintings by Susan McInnes. As can be seen, this particular book has had a long journey in our family.

It used to be said, that light coloured birds were from the wide open plains and darker birds from forested areas. But, like all anecdotal stories, they may only be true under certain circumstances. As a young tacker growing up in the wide ranging open fields of the Mallee in Victoria, it was not unusual to see light through dark birds.

Long term readers know we regularly have contact with a pair of Browns. She is of the mid-tone marbled chest, but her handsome male, that I call “Alistair” is a very light morph bird. Here he is on a turn.

To add to the complexities, some like Alistair have yellow cere and eye marks, while others are a grey-blue.

And for completeness, here is a young bird that had only been fledged a couple of days, the baby down is still showing on its head, as is the rich apricot colours.

Good Luck with id.

Enjoy.

Along the Track: Territory Management Raptor Style

December 18, 2023December 18, 2023Posted in Brown Falcon, Collared SparrowhawkTagged Brown Falcon, Collared Sparrowhawk6 Comments

The trees and gardens around the nearby beach park date to the time of the first settlers in the area. They had obtained rights to farm huge areas of the Port Philip Bay area and began to build a life-style to rival their English heritage.

Part of that incluced the planting of a range of pine trees, some must be over 100 years or more. The close spacing of the pines as wind-breaks has resulted in some fine nesting locations for a range of raptors.
Over the years we’ve had: Black-shouldered, Whistling and Black Kites in the area. For several seasons a pair of Spotted Harrier were in residence and they used the surrounding open paddocks that are covered in thick bracken as resting spots out of sight of the world.
Australian Hobbys have also chosen a few spots. And at present a pair of Collared Sparrowhawk have recently completed their clutch.

The Queen of the Area is a Brown Falcon, Cassia of Cinnamon, and her handsome light morph beau, Alistair.

But all this brings heavy pressure on the birds as each wants the best opportunities for their young to be fed. So it’s not unusual to see swooping, name calling and direct attacks occuring from time to time. And its not all one-sided. Depending on the development of each clutch depends on who is the aggressor.

However the other day an added complexity to the mix. The Sparrowhawks have successfully fledged two young birds. They are a month or more ahead of the Falcons, and so have reign of the treeline at present. And being young birds with highly developed flying skills and a little bit of juvenile team work, they decided that the lone perched Cassia, of Cinnamon would be a bit of a game.

She has claimed the tallest of the Umbrella Pines as her lookout, over the paddocks for food, out further for the returning Alistair and a direct line of site to the precious nest location.

The two young Sparrowhawks took umbrage she should be in their area and settled into a name of game calling out in the open, from a nearby old tree. Then in a series of planned attacks they launched at her. Nothing she couldn’t handle, but the action did get pretty hot.

Enjoy

Cassia, of Cinnamon readies for a close pass

Along the Track: On Falcon Wings

September 4, 2023Posted in Along the Track, Brown FalconTagged Along the Track, Brown Falcon10 Comments

We have of late been following the courtship and mating activities of a pair of Brown Falcons.
You are probably familiar with Cassia, of Cinnamon, and her pale morph mate, Alistair.

If she has a nesting location chosen, it’s still very much a secret, and she certainly is not showing any signs of incubating. However they are both favouring two trees and no doubt we’ll know soon enough

Cassia, of Cinnamon is relatively comfortable with our presence and has been known to fly onto branches near where I’m standing or sitting. Alistair on the other hand has a zero tolerance program and will take to wing well before a close approach.

The other morning, for reasons, Brown Falcon, he decided to fly out around the treelines in the two close paddocks and made several circuits that gave us some lovely views of his wing and tail details and of his masterful airmanship.
I don’t think there was any aggresion, and he seemed more to be performing for her, before flying off to hunt for a morsel or two to bring in as she waited on the very top of an Umbrella pine. (Pinus pinea)

Not much to comment on, so enjoy the circuits.

Something high up must have got his attention

As It Happened: The Next Generation

July 28, 2023Posted in Brown Falcon, UncategorizedTagged Brown Falcon9 Comments

His strident one note call resounded across the paddock, to be answered by her equally raucuous cackle.
Alistair was bringing in an offering snack for Cassia, of Cinnamon.
They met in a treeline about 800m from where I was and I missed the noisy food exchange, but did see Alistair fly out and land in the open on an old tree.

After a suitable meal time, Cassia, swung out to land in the same tree.
Interesting.

As she prepares for her nesting period, he needs to make sure she is quite well topped up to last the nearly 8 weeks of confinement when she won’t hunt for herself and relies on his constant attention.

It’s a little early for any eggs to be laid, based on previous seasons, I’d expect that to happen toward the end of September, (but who knows with Falcons).

Browns don’t build nests, they are quite the environmenally aware creatures and chose to repurpose a Magpies nest from a previous season. Maggies, don’t tend to use the same nest, preferring to purpose build. So it’s not as though the Falcons have to eject any unwanted sqautters.

With other things to do in the morning, mostly because of a strong offshore breeze bringing some Gannets in close enough for a reasonable photo, we didn’t pursue the happy couple.

On the way back from the beach, we detoured through the pine-tree-line, in case they were sitting.
Foolishly I rounded a tree and without looking stumbled on to Cassia perched down low. She bolted. I castigated myself for being so clumsy.

She quickly regained composure and sat in a tree about 50m away. And watched. And I watched.

Alistair came in quickly on the wind, turned and landed on the branch just above her, and watched. She watched. I watched.

A quick wing flap and Cassia landed near him, but on the highest open branch. And watched.
Then after a typical Falcon TIme Wait, she crouched over, and called him, encouraging him to mate.
Alistair, it has to be said, did not need much time to consider the offer.
Turning into the wind, he lightly took off, ever so gently landed on top of her bent over back, and the process of pro-creation began.

He then lifted wings and again ever so gently lifted off and away.

She relocated to another tree deeper in the pine tree line and we left them to carry on.

Enjoy

A long way down range. Great to see them together.

The strong northerly wind gave him a chance to show of his flying skills.

My fault. Apologies. Please forgive. I stumbled on her perched and startled her. She quickly recovered and landed about 50m away to wait for him.

Alistair landed on her back, ever so delicately I don’t think I saw her move under the weight

Sometimes mating is a raucous event, but this time both birds were silent. She needs to be able to push her tail up out of the way for them to be able to make contact.

In less than 4 seconds and its job done.

Wings out in the strong breeze, he lifts of as delicately as he arrived

And a few seconds later Cassia also launches

The jury is out as to where the nest might be, but the smart money is on it being in this general location.

Along the Track: Morning Rounds

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023Posted in Black Kite, Brolga, Brown Falcon, Fantail Cuckoo, Hoary-headed Grebe, Musk DuckTagged Black Kite, Brolga, Brown Falcon, Hoary-headed Grebe, Musk Duck11 Comments

It’s possible on a day at the Western Treatment Plant to clock up over 100 kilometres of driving. The entire plant is over 10,000 hectares — a little smaller than Philip Island.

Some recent changes to the access areas means that those who formely had limited access may now, from the 31st of July 2023, enter what was previously the “Special Access” area and required a different key. Now, One Key, (as they say in Tolkien) rules them all.

I think it’s fair to say that these days there are three sorts of people who visit the plant.

1. The true birdo. Dedicated to seeing as many species as possible in the shortest time, and of course to find that elusive ‘visitor’ to add to the total. These folk have been the mainstay if not the major visitors for many years. Travelling every road and side road is part and parcel of the visit.

2. Now it seems that photographers are becoming the dominant “species”. Again, desiring to see and photograph as many birds in the day and be able to have them all posted to Instadump or Spacebook before anyone else. Speed of travel is their essential hallmark, and sometimes it seems to me, to resemble a Rally-cross event (I used to photograph such events a long time ago so understand the techniques)

3. The art photographer. Not yet a huge group, but growing I feel. They have a need to find a bird and provide the ‘best possible’ image of said bird that shows not only the best of the bird, but their ’empathy’ for the species. Also prepared to stand around and pontificate about the latest mirrrorless kit and lens that is a ‘game changer’.
Clambering over grass, through salt-bush, crawling along the beach and the mudflats, is de rigueur for that expressive moment. Often I’ve noted of late, dressed in camo and ghillie-suits, looking more like an SAS Sniper. Willing to stop in the middle of a bund road to walk, crawl, or sneak to a spot to get that shot. Meanwhile the roadway is blocked to all other passersby.
( I know, I think I used to do this!- sans the ghillie)

A fourth visitor group, just to show I can count beyond three: is more the traveller about the plant, seeing birds and generally enjoying an outing.
These days, I have to admit to fitting somewhere between 3 and 4.

We no longer do the ‘full tour’ We have a few ponds and areas that we’ll go to, sit for awhile, and then move on. Most days, it’s an early morning start, and by lunch time, it’s time to go on up the road to The Highway Lounge, and one of Gerry’s well made hot brews.

With the sun streaming in through the window at breakfast time, the other morning, it didn’t take long to abandon other projects for the day, and head on down to the WTP.

Here are a few from the day. Click on an image to move to a Gallery experience

Enjoy

From the Field Notebook: Raptor Morning

June 9, 2023Posted in Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Falcon, Collared Sparrowhawk, Nankeen Kestrel, Point Cook, Whistling Kite10 Comments

We had chosen to go to Point Cook to see if we might get some close in Gannet hunting pics.

Well they were there, but so, so far out. Perhaps 40-50 of them, and a great splash was in progress. Lovely to watch, but no photos of distinction.

However, the day was not lost, as we managed to have visits from no less than 7 different raptor species. Didn’t manage a worthwhile shot of the Collared Sparrowhawk or a departing Swamp Harraier, but we were entertained over a cup of the Grey of Earl, by 5 Whistling Kites that seemed to want to play through the tall pines at the water’s edge.

Mike the Black-shouldered Kite is still busy as Madeline is sitting on a new clutch.

Interesting to find a pair of Little Eagles. They kept high in the air to prevent the local Magpie neighbourhood watch from harassing them

Cassia, of Cinnamon, and Alistair made a brief appearance, and were happy to sit together and exchange calls.

While not a resident, this Hobby is making occassional shows through the park

Five Whistling Kites were out for a morning’s fun. They kept us entertained as they chased each other through the trees

We haven’t seen good number of the kites for a couple of seasons. The wonderful rich wing markings that kind of resemble a studded jacket were a treat.

Such big birds, yet so highly manoeuvreable through the trees.

And as we headed for home we found two Kestrels at hunt

Just shows that sometimes a day is unpredictable.
Enjoy

Little Visits: A Raptor Moment… or Two

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023Posted in Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, WTPTagged Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, WTP10 Comments

We started out heading to monitor several Black-shouldered Kites nestings, but as the early morning sunhine beckoned when we made it to the freeway we decided a coffee at Gerry’s at the Highway Lounge and then on the WTP for a looksee for robins.

Coffee despatched, we didn’t have any success with the Robins however.

For those that have visited the WTP we headed on up toward Ryan’s Swamp.

A good move it turned out to be as there were a number of raptors working along the roadway.

Our first sighting for the day, a Black Kite among the old trees

A female Nankeen Kestrel was ‘hawking’ up the remains of breakfast. A little furball lump of undigestible rubbish.

We spotted this Brown Falcon ‘walking’ along the road, no doubt it had scored a meal, as it flew to the tree and the next 45 minutes or so we stood with it, as it slowly digested the meal. There is something special about being able to observe this bird, unstressed, and watch its various character traits.

Handsome in the early morning light with dark storm clouds building behind

A number of Black Kites were also in the same area. It looks like full on dogfight, but these big birds seem to love to play about together

Another Black from the same area, and it appears to have nesting in mind.

Meanwhile the others continued the games

Yet another Falcon swept in to see what was going on.

It didn’t take us too long to find a pair of Black-shouldered Kites at work on nesting. Unlike most Black-shouldered these were nesting in the top of a dead tree in the open. Here the male has just arrived to relieve the female for awhile.

Nesting hasn’t blunted her hunting skills

Don’t mess with Mamma. She is unhappy about the Black Kite attention on the treeline

More Kestrel hunting. I missed the catch of this one.

A pair of Brown Falcons, they are not ready to mate, but are doing their best to keep the pair-bond alive and bright. He has just swept in from a few aerial stunts to impress her. She is crouched ready to accept his advances. We again spent 15 minutes or more watching their various antics, and after a lot of calls and cackles, they both flew to different perch area to repeat the performance

Hey, I think you look pretty special. Well I can’t speak Brown Falconese, so who knows what he said.

Enjoy

Little Visits: Dressing for Autumn

March 14, 2023Posted in Brown FalconTagged Brown Falcon14 Comments

Before anyone starts writing to me about the following encounter, please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog. Thanks.

We were deep in Cassia, of Cinnamon Country. Part of the pair’s territory includes an area known by locals as, “The Duck Pond”. A small ephemeral pond(?) created with good intentions, but unsuccessful in the sandy beach area. However there is a good stand of trees and some favourite perches for the Good Lady of the Manor and her handsome companion.

The long winter rains had filled the Duck Pond and it made a perfect nursery for a number of water birds to raise their young. We were monitoring a pair of Little Aussie Battlers, who were risking it all for a second clutch before the pond dries out.

Given the Grebes mistrust of humans, while EE made a close approach I stayed on the outside of the tree line and watched proceedings, and also kept an eye across the paddock.

I spotted a dark shape moving over the dried grasses of the paddock, and after a few seconds decided to put the camera on it for a better look. It was Cassia, of Cinnamon.
She was heading across the paddock in the general diretion of the tree line. I am convinced that Brown Falcons do not fly whilly-nilly about but each move is determined and with purpose.
She kept coming. It didn’t take me too long to figure out that she was on a direct line to where I was standing. And, I began to make a frame or two. The approach was typical Falcon. Low and fast. And, to make it more complex for the photographer, she was coming out of the sun, so it was mostly a glare in the viewfinder.
She crossed a fence line just in front of me, and swept up, and into the sun.
Blinded momentarily, I didn’t see where she went and I turned around but couldn’t see her flying through.
EE helped by pointing up.

And there, just above my head sat a very calm Brown Falcon. I tippy-toed out from under the tree for a better view. Would she move?
No.

She settled in to preening. As I stepped back I noticed that her companion, he is a most handsome light coloured bird, was in a tree on the other side of the pond.
Some detective work afterward, suggested he had brought in a snack, but, had dropped it when challenged by a passing Hobby or Peregrine.
Being glued to the narrow view through the lens, I’d missed all the extra activity.

And that no doubt was why Cassia had made the journey. I found a fresh caught prey in the grass near the fence a little later on, and suspect that it was the piece contested. Also there is no doubt that Cassia knew exactely where it was and would reclaim it later.

She made no effort to move from her perch while I moved about for a better angle, and when I finally walked further down the tree line, she also moved to see what I was doing (perhaps?- am I that interesting?) Which allowed me to make several different portaits.

40 minutes later (I checked the camera time data) and she still was in no hurry to move on. So we left her to do what Browns seem to do so well.
Contemplate.

It is worth checking her tail set in these frames as she is well on the way to moulting in a new set of feathers to replace the summer worn out ones. And there are a few wing feathers that need replacing too.
Some recent blog posts show her worn feathers.
No doubt in a couple of weeks, her new wardrobe will be complete.

Enjoy.

Flying low across the paddock. And just in case you should wonder. She is looking directly at me, and is well aware of my presence.

Just about to get lost in the Sun. She is sweeping up to land in the tree directly over my head

I think she might still be watching the Hobby high in the sky overhead

Also spotted her handsome companion. He is a wonderful light coloured bird. But has a zero tolerance policy for the human condition.

A view of the double tail as the new tail feathers grow into place.

Sometimes preening is a neverous reaction, other times it’s down to the serious business of looking your best for WordPress

Did I mention he is human intolerant. TIme to depart.

I like the look here, “Now where is he going?”

We moved back down the pond area, and she also relocated. Gave me some casual portaits

Changes of light and angle give different aspects. One legged pose suggests she is quite comfortable

I’d be confident she was working out the best appoach to pickup the dropped carcass.

As I was preparing this post, I came across some interesting and relevant info on Brad Hill’s Natural Art Images website on field techniqes
http://www.naturalart.ca/artist/techniques.html

This paragraph is about getting close.

Getting Close: Hiding in Plain Sight.
This is my preferred method of getting close to and working with wildlife. The goal of this approach is to have the wildlife, over time, come to accept my presence and have THEM approach me (rather than chasing them across the landscape).
The biggest downside of hiding in plain sight is that can be very time consuming. While I can think of worse things than sitting out in the wilderness for hours or days on end (though it can be decidedly uncomfortable at times), it does take extreme patience and focused attention (so it’s unlikely any today’s teenagers will ever practice this technique). Interestingly, I can’t count the times where I’ve captured memorable – and totally unexpected – images (like this Lorquin’s Admiral) while hiding in plain sight.
This ability to watch ALL around me while hiding in plain sight is extremely valuable (and the inability to do so one of the main reasons I don’t like sitting in an enclosed blind).
Don’t think I’m holding back information on this “hide in plain sight” technique – it doesn’t involve any form of animal “whispering” or zen-like connection with the wildlife. There’s nothing magical, special, or even difficult about it, other than finding the discipline and time to practise it.

Disclaimer
birdsaspoetry.com policy.
This bird is completely wild.
There is no baiting, or use of calls, or other methods to encourage the bird to approach.
It’s her choice to fly aross the paddock and land where-ever she wants to.
We’ve worked with the pair for a number of seasons and are careful to treat them both with respect and care.
I take her confidence very seriously and feel we are fortunate to be graced by her presence.

We don’t get a close encounter on every trip, and should she be put to wing in my presence, I am the lesser for the carelessness.

The Greatest Show

November 13, 2022November 15, 2022Posted in Brown Falcon, Point CookTagged Brown Falcon, Point Cook Coastal Park10 Comments

A movie that I never tire of watching reruns is the Hugh Jackman in, “The Greatest Showman”. I enjoy the fun and the intesity of the music and the dancers. Storyline is well… but the visuals really excite me. There is also some fine songs including the amazing, Keala Settle as the Bearded Lady and her song, “This is Me!”
(PS if you want a great version of this song see Keala Settle – This Is Me | Abu Dhabi 2019 Special Olympics Closing Ceremony It is throat-choaking stuff and she looks like she is thoroughly enjoying herself)

Well, the other day, we were invited to enjoy Cassia, of Cinnamon’s version of the “Greatest Show on Earth!”

Her young are now well hatched and beginning to show some juvenile feathers under the white down, and so she is able to spend most of her day off the nest waiting for Alistair to being in food, and also to keep watch over the young from a high vantage point in the tallest Umbrella Pine in the park.

Cassia, of Cinnamon. The young are now well on the way to getting their first real feathers and she is spending more time off the nest.

A favourite spot on an Umbrella Pine or Italian Stone Pine. She has a commanding view over the paddocks around and can easily spot the return of her mate, Alistair, wth food

Wait, what was that. From her high vantage point she had spotted a likely meal on the ground

When Cassia flew, I had no idea what was about to unfold, but it was obvious something had her attention.

In a typical Brown Falcon move she headed straight down to ground level. We often think of Browns as being somewhat lumbering because of the over-arm rowing wing action. Nowhere near as sleek as their other falcon cousins. However this was a super fast run. I was so enthralled by her appoach on the ground that I didn’t make a single frame. She sped along the roadway just a few centimters above, and then dropped one leg, scooped up a lizard and immediately sped-up to make a climbing turn. No matter how fast you just read that sentence, she was faster.

Of couse her arrival and departure didn’t escape the local neighbourhood watch

Lined up now for a direct ascent to the treeline.

The infuriated Magpies were quick to respond as well, but with a turn of speed not normally seen by a Brown, she powered away to drop the meal in the nest for her growing young.

Lining up to get a clean run into the nest.

And here is one of the three young mouths that need feeding. This one has just opened for a wing stretch to show the very small wings sheaths still to develop.

A tiny hint of the rich ginger colour of juvenile moult beginning to show.

Enjoy

A Trip in the Grey Box at Eynesbury

November 7, 2022Posted in Australasian Grebe, Australian Wood Duck, Brown Falcon, Brown Treecreeper, Grey Box ForestTagged Australasian Grebe, Brown Falcon, Brown Treecreepers, Chestnut Teal, Eynesbury, Galah, Tree Martin14 Comments

Been a long time between posts, I know. Hope you remember me!

But the excuse—I’m going to use—is that we just haven’t been doing much that is reportable.

Long term readers may remember that the blog was originally set up to record the bird activity at Grey Box forest at Woodlands Historic Park. Quite a few things have changed, in the park, and in my birding life, and in my life since those humble beginnings.
It has been said more than once, sometimes kindly, others not, that I have Grey Box sap running in my veins. Put me in a stand of Grey Box and my heartrate, breathing and all other out of contol faculties calm down.
So when EE said, casually, ‘Why don’t we go to Eynesbury”, on a sunny morning, before you can say, “We’re off” we were!

After all the rain, Eynesbury Grey Box looks a treat. Plenty of green and still good water laying about in the usual dry water courses that cross the forest.

We had hoped to see Speckled Warbler, Diamond Firetail, Sacred Kingfisher and Jacky Winter. In descending order of importance.
We also had hoped to hear the forest ringing with the sounds of Dusky Woodswallows that regularly return to nest in the area.
However Grey Box is not always forthcoming and in the end we had to admit, that today was not going to be our day.

But here’s a small selection of the action.

Plenty of Tree Martins. Just about every available hole had its families.

A new Brown Falcon for me. A dark morph male used to work in this area, but time has allowed a new encumbant. The same technque however was being used.
It would glide from one perch spot to another and pick off a recently fledged starling or martin along the way.

Satisifed, it had plenty of time to digest its meal before making another foray

That looks like a suitable meal.
We often think of Browns as being a bit lumbering or labouring in flight. But, given the right conditions they can put on a turn of speed and manoeuvrability that rivals their more agile cousins

Just what ever small pond needs. Maned Duck. I still think Wood Duck is so much better.
I also suspect she was out for a bit of stretch from nesting as he was sole guardian of the pond as we returned

The Brown Treecreepers are feeding the first of their young, and look to be having a good season.

Getting all your duck(lings) in a straight line.
At first we thought they must have been orphaned, but the male Chestnut Teal quickly came out and gathered them all up.
This is another ephemeral pond, and the first time I’ve seen water in it in over 10 years

Galahs are also fledging their recent young.

This was the find of the day. The little Aussie Battler has set up a nest in a tiny, narrow arm of the main lake at Eynesbury. It’s right by a walking track, and she didn’t seem at all concerend at our presence.

A bit of a show-off.
There are several captive peafowl at the Old Homestead. Hard not to resist a look at those amazing tail markings. Excuse the rubbish bin.

Saturday Evening Post #163 : Stoic by Nature

November 27, 2021Posted in Brown Falcon, Saturday Evening PostTagged Brown Falcon, Saturday Evening Post4 Comments

Spent an afternoon in a Grey Box forest recently. Not often we get to spend time in a forest. Yet, once upon a time, in a universe somewhere around the corner, this blog started keeping track of my visits to Woodlands Grey Box forest.
And most of the subjects of the time were bush birds.

However just on 8 years, (my, doesn’t time fly), we moved home to an area that is pretty much bereft of any sort of forest stand and is primarily open Basalt Plains Grasslands.

Gone are the small forest birds like Robins and in their place are numbers of small, but difficult to locate grass dwellers.
At the top of the food chain are the raptors—Kites and Falcons.

Most are nomadic at best, but usually Brown Falcon is local. Working a territory and not travelling too far to follow the food. Being pretty catholic in diet, they have plenty to choose from in the grasslands.

That’s the thing about Browns. Hot or Cold. They are there.
The scorching 40 degree days of summer. The high windy gale-force days. The days of incessant, if not persistent rain. No matter what.
Brown sits and waits. It is their nature.

In some respects if we were to anthropomorphise, I’d be inclined to call them Stoic.
But as we don’t anthropomorphise, I won’t. 🙂

One of the tenets of Stoicism was (is?)”in accordance with nature.” Because of this:
the Stoics thought the best indication of an individual’s philosophy was not what a person said but how a person behaved. To live a good life, one had to understand the rules of the natural order since they thought everything was rooted in nature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism

I am convinced that Browns really do understand the nature order around them. To watch one slip off a branch, and head along the paddock as just a few cms over the ground, dodging branches, bushes and the like is to watch a bird that has ‘plotted’ the area.
The other day, as we were watching with Cassia, of Cinnamon, she suddenly picked up her skirts and moved to a tree about 50m away, but more out in the open. I said to Mr An and EE, but more likely I just said it out loud as commentary, “Brown Falcons, don’t just move from one tree to another for no purpose. She has moved for her reason and no doubt it we wait a little bit it will become apparent.” Don’t want to sound like a Falcon prophet or some-such, but we waited. Within 5 minutes the Male turned up with lunch. The more open tree was the perfect place for a quick food exchange.
No doubt she had seen or heard him when he was a long way out and prepared herself to receive the delivery.

During nesting season, it is a little hard not to have sympathy with their main food source of the young. Cassia, of Cinnamon and her mate, have a likeness for Pipits and Skylarks. Both of which nest in the grasses on the ground, and must be, for a hovering Falcon, an easy mark. Or for a Falcon with an intimate knowledge fo the area as it scans from a post, or tree—although there are not too many trees on your average grasslands.

Brown’s are not noted for their amazing hovering ability, but given a good breeze, they can make a pretty fair fist of it. And so at present, he is bringing in for the three young fledglings, a pipit or skylark most deliveries.

For their part the hapless grass birds have two advantages. One they outnumber the falcons. And they are capable of several nestings a season, so once the urgency of the falcons passes the little birds should be fairly successful.

The falcons presumably will go back to hunting grasshoppers, crickets and the occasional snake.
The young will move off to find their own territories and the exhausted local pair will go back to sitting quietly, watching for the next convenient meal.

And the Pipits can resume sitting on the fence posts without fear.