Just for those that may be interested here is another Swamp Harrier looking very similar to the bird pointed to by Rohan.
http://www.pbase.com/palliser/image/131670089
This individual was photographed at Kurnell, Sydney in November 2008. Such birds are not that uncommon, but interesting just the same.
Cheers, Tony
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Prompted by this interesting discussion, I’ve put a few images of a Swamp Harrier i photographed at the Lesser Yellowlegs spot a couple of years ago (Jerseyville, NSW) which is also a bit similar. The quality is terrible but still hopefully interesting for people?
http://www.pbase.com/davidstowe/swamp_harrier
(last 4 images)
Cheers David Stowe
href=”mailto:binzsav@clear.net.nz”>binzsav@clear.net.nz wrote: href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ==============================
In New Zealand – Swamp Harrier is the only large raptor, and is very widespread and common. One can easily see up to 50 Harriers in a day. We see birds like this all the time, and I believe that you Aussies don’t see so many just because there are not so many!!
Cheers
Sav Saville Wrybill Birding Tours,NZ “Great Birds, Real Birders”
Thanks Sav,
I suspect it may not be that straightforward….In Australia I have never seen a bird that was as pale as the two recent photographs (but have seen a couple approaching this) and I have seen hundreds, probably 1000s, of Swamp Harriers here. In contrast, I’ve seen a few very pale birds during just a handful of short visits to NZ. I’d suggest that pale birds make up a larger proportion of the population in NZ rather than these sightings simply reflecting a greater abundance there.
Two possible explanations for this might be that the NZ birds have come through a genetic bottleneck when establishing that has led to a higher proportion of the male population developing these plumages at a younger age or alternatively perhaps the age structure of the NZ population is different to the Australian population (i.e. birds live longer in NZ) – quite possible given Swamp Harrier is effectively at the top of the pecking order in NZ but a long way down the list in Australia.
Cheers, Rohan
On 9/01/2011 9:09 AM, binzsav@clear.net.nz wrote: href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au