Mystery bird of prey?

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G Martyn
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 3:42 pm

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby G Martyn » Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:34 am

Thanks Steve. I didn't go to Hill St South. I'll keep an eye out if I am heading that way.
Graeme Martyn
Nelson
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2132
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby andrewcrossland » Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:22 am

Hi Steve,
This sort of "mystery bird" story are loved by local media, so a good way of getting any resightings is to get the pic, story and request for sightings/and pics. If its been sitting on a neighbour's back fence then there's a reasonable chance they'll let the paper know.
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Steve Wood
Posts: 382
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:57 pm

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby Steve Wood » Sun Sep 01, 2019 3:13 pm

Finally caught up with what I think was the 'Mystery' bird. - Male Swamp Harrier.
A very striking bird that showed reasonable well after several hours of searching in the area it was last seen.The bird was with a standard (browner) female, and were both showing signs of breeding behavior, tumbling together in the sky and disappearing into some light scrub at times.
Swamp Harrier ( pale male) i  Nelson Sept 2019 - Copy.jpg
Swamp Harrier ( pale male) i Nelson Sept 2019 - Copy.jpg (134.8 KiB) Viewed 2310 times
Swamp Harrier -(pale male) Nelson area. Sept 2019 - Copy.jpg
Swamp Harrier -(pale male) Nelson area. Sept 2019 - Copy.jpg (380.74 KiB) Viewed 2310 times
Swamp Harrier -(pale male ii) Nelson area. Sept 2019.jpg
Swamp Harrier -(pale male ii) Nelson area. Sept 2019.jpg (103.65 KiB) Viewed 2310 times
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RussCannings
Posts: 1216
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 5:23 am

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby RussCannings » Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:37 pm

Great work Steve!

Occams Razor strikes again.
Davidthomas
Posts: 1310
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:05 am

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby Davidthomas » Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:23 pm

Good stuff Steve! What a stunning bird. Maybe I’ll have to try and catch up with him for fun!
Paul Sagar
Posts: 58
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2015 8:59 am
Location: Geraldine

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby Paul Sagar » Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:27 pm

Yes, indeed great photo Steve. Many thanks for your perseverance in resolving this puzzle. William of Ockham was an astute thinker.
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Steve Wood
Posts: 382
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:57 pm

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby Steve Wood » Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:49 pm

Thanks guys. Good to get it resolved.
I tried very hard to make it a Papuan Harrier .....but alas !
phil hammond
Posts: 501
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:10 pm

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby phil hammond » Sun Sep 01, 2019 6:25 pm

Well done Steve. Thanks for your effort
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Tim Barnard
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:30 pm
Location: Okere Falls

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby Tim Barnard » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:00 pm

So Steve as you asked me ... why isn't it an eastern Marsh Harrier ...
https://singaporebirds.com/species/east ... h-harrier/
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Steve Wood
Posts: 382
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:57 pm

Re: Mystery bird of prey?

Postby Steve Wood » Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:22 pm


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