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Nankeen Kestrel
Falco cenchroides
-17.4346, 123.723
Spotting Video
Field Notes
Description:
The Nankeen Kestrel is a "slender falcon and is a relatively small raptor (bird of prey). The upper parts are mostly rufous, with some dark streaking. The wings are tipped with black. The underparts are pale buff, streaked with black, and the under tail is finely barred with black, with a broader black band towards the tip. Females tend to be more heavily marked and have more rufous on the crown and tail. Males have a greyish crown and tail, although the extent varies between individuals." (Birdlife Australia)
Habitat:
Perched on a bare branch overlooking the water at Mankajarra Wetlands. This is towards the end of the dry season and in the build up to the wet season. Although the water level was low at the time, (it got much lower see pic 3 taken three weeks after the Nankeen Kestrel), there was still water and food due to the large amount of rain from the previous wet season (see pic 2 taken April 2017 just after the wet season) . Mankajarra has stands of Paperbark Trees (Melaleuca sp.) and other plants along the edges of the water. When the water level is high, the trees are in the water (see pic 2) and the birds have many more places to hide in and hunt from.
Notes:
My mum and I were sitting amongst the Paperbark Trees (Melaleuca sp.) when mum looked up and spotted this beautiful bird of prey perched there. Check out this little video: https://youtu.be/93ypOC_QswU
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