An unfamiliar bird call caught my ear. When I tracked it down high up in the canopy of the gum trees I realized it was a hawk of some kind. Further searching led me to another tree where I got a clearer view of a bird silhouetted against the sky. My zoom lens made my heart jump. It was a Pacific Baza an uncommon bird that I've not seen out here on the farm. To heighten my delight, while I watched, another bird dropped into my viewer. I had actually discovered a breeding pair with a juvenile they were feeding. My camera is not good enough to get a really clear shot but I am happy to share my discovery as a collage.
Pacific Baza are sedentary birds which I've seen occasionally in closer to the coast but never out here. I love their crested grey head and pinstriped chests. When they soar you can see the rufous underlining of their wings and upper tail. A lovely bird.
