Tag Archives: Australian Hobby

The Little Duck-Hawk

Another of the raptors we found along the roads in the Treatment Plant was an Australian Hobby. I don’t often see this species though have seen one twice now in the last few months. I actually see Peregrine Falcons more often. This one flew into the Paradise Lagoons section along one of the roads and watched the various birds in the area as well as watch us slowly drive forward.   The Hobby (from old French “hobe” meaning small falcon) was also called the “Little Falcon” , “Little Duck-Hawk”, “Black-faced Hawk”, “White-fronted Hawk” and its Latin name means “Long-winged Falcon”.

Australian Hobby, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

Australian Hobby, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

Starting Winter at Southern Greens Bush

I re-visited the Southern section of Greens Bush yesterday.  Winter has just started here but the mornings are already quite cold. Luckily the beginning of the track is quite open and I could warm up a bit in the sun. The first few birds I saw threw me a bit as I tried to identify them. They turned out to be Brown Thornbills that were still puffed up from the extra air in their plumage to keep warm over night. They were little puff balls and looked a lot larger than normal. Walking through the mature Banksia forest I could see a bird on one of the dead trees in the distance. Trying to sneak a bit  closer I found an Australian Hobby (also called a Little Falcon) perched in the morning sun surveying the territory for breakfast.  I walked a bit too close and it took off along the ridge line and down into the forest. I bit further along I found a Grey Shrike-thrush keeping an eye out for the falcon. It was so focussed on the sky that I managed to walk right up to it and take a few images.

Australian Hobby, Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park

Australian Hobby, Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park

Australian Hobby, Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park

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Grey Shrike-thrush, Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park

Grey Shrike-thrush, Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park

Grey Shrike-thrush, Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park

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