Swamp Harriers in flight

[rsser]

The adults are very shy and do a 180 when they see you even if you're a mile off. The juveniles, the dark ones here, have yet to learn that.

These were taken at the Western Treatment Plant near Geelong earlier this year. It was a good summer for them down there.

Click on the thumbnail for the full image.

Juvenile
Swamp Harrier IF juv (56).jpg

Same guy
Swamp Harrier IF juv (49).jpg

Adult starting doing a U-turn
Swamp Harrier IF (18).jpg

This is how they hunt: gliding fairly low over grassland
Swamp Harrier IF (48).jpg

Adult that's spotted something edible and is putting on the brakes
Swamp Harrier IF (28).jpg

They do a tight turn and dive straight down
Swamp Harrier IF (91).jpg

[Pindan]

Some good shots here Ern.

I take it you are a birder, what lens do you use?.

[rsser]

Thanks Pindan.

I'm more a bird shooter than a birder - lol, that gets me off the hook having to be able to identify them all.

I use a Sony A9 and Sony 400mm f2.8 with a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter.