Birds of Prey Bonanza - photos

Over the past week I have been very fortunate to see and observe a number of Birds of Prey.

Apart from the Grey Falcon experience I mentioned in the previous post, the area west of Alice Springs has been a BoP watcher’s paradise. From the sheer awe of a close-up encounter with a Wedge-tailed Eagle, the exhilaration of hearing the whoosh of a Black Falcon swooping prey only ten feet away, the variety of “sentry” alarm calls echoing across the “killing fields”, to the gentle soaring of a Black-breasted Buzzard and the almost trance-like slow flapping of the Spotted Harrier. The speed demons – Peregrine Falcon and Australian Hobby, the stealth of the Brown Goshawk and the Collard Sparrowhawk, and the hover-crafters – the Nankeen Kestrel and the Black-shouldered Kite. The Whistling and Black Kites, common but still delightful to watch and hear, and finally the inquisitive Little Eagle. All in a week. All different. All inspiring. All large (in bird terms) and generally easy to spot in the sky.

The following is a range of photographs I’ve managed over the past week. I hope you enjoy,

Wedge-tailed Eagle

 Australian Hobby

Black Falcon

Black-breasted Buzzard

Brown Falcon

Brown Goshawk

Collared Sparrowhawk

Little Eagle

Nankeen Kestrel with 9 Willie Wagtails

Spotted Harrier

 Whistling Kite