A Predatory Dinosaur

[RockOne]

....or at least a close relative. Got home today and noticed that feathers were raining from above. Looked up and seen this Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) about 20 metres up a Norfolk Pine, dining away on a parrot of some kind (or should I say an ex-parrot, bereft of life etc :-) .). It's one of those moments when you really wish you had a 600mm L IS lens, but this was the best I could do with the 75-300mm (+300D).

[RockOne]

Of course nature does a bit of recycling, and the local magpies decided that the feathers might make a good nesting material (or at least a false beard disguise :-) ).

[tupe]

Nice shot. I've never seen either of these birds.

[witchy]

Nice shot. I've never seen either of these birds.

They are Aussie birds. I don't know much about the falcon but Magpies are beautiful birds and they have the nicest song..I actually handreared one and she was the best pet!..The can also learn to talk!


Great pics!

[djonto]

I didn't think Magpies were Aussie birds - there are plenty of them here in the UK all year round

[cfcRebel]

Wow, #1 and #2 are great captures! you did good with the 300mm Steve. I would rather have a 300mm + a falcon than a 600mm + a turtle. ;)

[HJMinard]

Very nice shots ... and thanks for the chuckle (Monty Python reference)!

[scottbergerphoto]

Beautiful shots!. I love the colors.

[RockOne]

Thanks tupe. I'd never seen the Hobby before either (had to look it up), but the magpies are everywhere.

Thanks witchy. Magpies do have a nice song. Didn't hear what teh hobby sounded like, he was too busy eating.

djonto - these are a different type of magpie.I think the first English settlers in Australia seen them and thought they looked a little like the magpies from back home :-) !

Thanks cfcRebel. I guess you have to get the best you can with what you have :-)

Thanks Jay. It's amazing the first thing that comes to mind when you realize it's a bleedin demised parrot :-).

Thanks Scott - the sun was on its way down whcih helped the colours. I was waiting for him to fly away to see if I could get a shot in flight, but the waning light beat me to it.

[stoneylonesome]

Cool shot, the second one he almost looks like a statue. :)

[witchy]

I didn't think Magpies were Aussie birds - there are plenty of them here in the UK all year round

I didn't know that!..wow!..I always thought that they were only found here!
I am very fond of our local maggies, they are great birds!

[RockOne]

Thanks Sandy.
Witchy the UK magpies are a different species..and are really a type of crow (I think ?).

[witchy]

Thanks Sandy.
Witchy the UK magpies are a different species..and are really a type of crow (I think ?).

I posted before seeing your post :o

However I did think our maggies were unique to us :)

[RockOne]

Our magpies are unique to us, and PNG. They have been introduced into New Zealand as well.