Young Eastern Osprey, Australia? (1 Viewer)

[Wiganlad]

Landing in a tree behind the house in Safety Bay, WA, Australia end of January, is this a young Eastern Ospre? I am concerned that the visible eye stripe only goes behind the eye.

 

[Butty]

Reluctantly, I guess it is an osprey. With all that white underneath, I can't see any other option.

 

[Wiganlad]

You have phrased it exactly as I feel!! Thanks Butty.

 

[HouseCrow]

There, I am suggesting it: up to now I had never heard of the species, but is Square-tailed Kite not a better option?

Southern Ryukyu Islands is as close as I have been to AUS, so...

cheers,
G

 

[Southern Viking]

There, I am suggesting it: up to now I had never heard of the species, but is Square-tailed Kite not a better option?

Southern Ryukyu Islands is as close as I have been to AUS, so...

cheers,
G

Never seen one either, but It's definitely not an Osprey, and Square-tailed Kite looks spot-on from an image search

 

[Wiganlad]

Never seen one either, but It's definitely not an Osprey, and Square-tailed Kite looks spot-on from an image search.

Interesting. I had considered the kite because before I saw it, others told me it was brown but, like Butty, I was swayed towards Osprey by the apparent white underparts. It was a couple of hundred yards away on full video zoom though.

 

[Southern Viking]

Interesting. I had considered the kite because before I saw it, others told me it was brown but, like Butty, I was swayed towards Osprey by the apparent white underparts. It was a couple of hundred yards away on full video zoom though.

It's only the rear part of the underparts you can see in the photos, and on google images some (juvs?) show pale lower belly and ventral areas. It's the head that really gives it away though. The dark, almost ruffed or crested rear half and pale front half with thin bill.

 

[Wiganlad]

I think you are persuading me! Certainly the face is what drew me to the kite originally.