You just have to be in the right place at the right time, Vortex. And keep your ears to the ground - word of a Red Goshawk travels pretty fast.
There have been a few birds that, most unusually for this rare and secretive species, have been readily viewable. One of the best-known was the Mataranka bird, which nested three years running in a caravan park, and raised youngsters there each year. I was lucky enough to spend three days with this family back in 2003 (thanks for the tip, Mike!). Pictures at http://tannin.net.au/tropical.html#topend
The male never approached the nest and the only way you knew he was around was that the female sometimes brought back food he had caught for her. Doubtless she was catching others for herself as well. They are supposed to mainly take birds, however the only prey I got a decent look at was brown and furry - a rat or something similar. They fledged two youngsters that year. Watching the older one take his first flight was very special.
Of the Australian raptors, the really difficult ones are usually thought to be:
Grey Falcon
Red Goshawk
Letter-winged Kite
Black-breasted Buzzard
I regard a few others as also rather hard. (Not sure if most people would agree with me or not.)
Grey Goshawk
Square-tailed Kite
Black Falcon
Spotted Harrier
The first four listed .... I think you just go outback and especially up north and hope you get lucky. The Letter-winged Kite is a bit different: it apparently has very specialised habitat requirements and you just have to go to the right place .... if you can find the right place!
PS: David Hollands has some interesting things to say about them in his raptor book.
Ha! Isn't life like that Dimitris? I saw Red Goshawk, Black-breasted Buzzard, Square-tailed Kite, Black Falcon, and even Grey Falcon before I saw my first Grey Goshawk - and even then. the one I saw was the (fairly rare) white morph, not the (relatively common) grey morph.
In fact, for me the Grey Goshawk was the second-last Australian raptor on the list ..... and it might be quite a while before I get to complete that list, as the one remaining species is the Letter-winged Kite - a tough ask and a very long way away from here.
Spotted Harrier was another one that I had to wait quite a while for, though I've seen a resonable number of them since, as was the Square-tailed Kite, which I first saw in south-west Western Australia. Wonderful bird! Their effortless flight through the treetops is just fantastic.
I've never birded up the south coast of NSW. Almost made it there over Easter, as there are about 6 birds I need in that area, but wound up heading back to the Pillaga and the country beyond Armidale once again. Sounds to me as though I better make it a priority!
As for Grey Goshawk well anywhere with wet forest down here is good for them. I know of at least 2 locations around Bateman's Bay and Surfside were there's a reasonable chance for a sighting. (also Brown Gosh. and Collared Spawk as well. (and Sooty Owl too but that's even harder (for me))
Anyways I've divereted this thread enough...
Cheers,
Dimitris
Not at all, all much the same-none are easy to find or observe.
Interesting, whats your definition of a "reasonable" chance? The only time ive seen these things up close, (less than 10metres, close enough for positive id) ive been sitting still, for some time, motionless. A sparrowhawk landed two and a half metres above my head on a branch, same with goshawks, ive found you luck out by stopping near a favourite perch, or its 30-40 metres plus , and you only see them leaving leaving at a rapid rate.
That doesnt include soaring, but thats not the best veiwing experience, especially with larger raptors, whistlers or black kites around.
Reading through some of the earlier posts on this thread, things like the Little Eagles of Canberra are suffering due to urbanisation of former grassy woodlands ...... :-C
:
Hi James,Hi Chosun,
Apparently the Little Eagles have increased to 6 pairs from 1 a few years ago. It obviously got quite dire. There is plenty of habitat in ACT for them so I dont know what the constraint is. Certainly I found them easy enough to see in the centre last year at Jerrabomberra.
Cheers
James