The letter-winged kite (Elanus scriptus) is a small, rare bird of prey that is found only in Australia. Measuring around 35 cm (14 in) in length with a wingspan of 84–100 cm (33–39 in), the adult has predominantly pale grey and white plumage and prominent black rings around its red eyes. It gains its name from a distinctive black "M" or "W" shape on the underwing, seen when in flight. This marking distinguishes it from the otherwise similar black-shouldered kite. The species begins breeding rapidly in response to rodent outbreaks, with pairs nesting in loose colonies of up to 50 birds each. Three to four eggs are laid and incubated for around 30 days, though the eggs may be abandoned if the food source disappears. Chicks are fledged within five weeks of hatching. Roosting in well-foliaged trees during the day, the letter-winged kite hunts for rodents mostly at night, hovering in midair above grasslands and fields.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter-winged_kite

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1861:

American Civil War: The USS San Jacinto stopped the British mailship RMS Trent and arrested two Confederate envoys en route to Europe, sparking a major diplomatic crisis between the United Kingdom and the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Affair

1939:

Georg Elser unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler with a time bomb, but killed eight people and injured more than sixty-two others instead. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Elser

1974:

British peer Lord Lucan disappeared without a trace, a day after allegedly murdering his children's nanny Sandra Rivett. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bingham,_7th_Earl_of_Lucan

2006:

Israeli artillery mistakenly shelled a row of houses in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, killing 19 Palestinians and wounding more than 40 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_shelling_of_Beit_Hanoun

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

mentalese: (philosophy, psychology) A hypothetical non-verbal language in which concepts are represented in the mind. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mentalese

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It is sooth that sin is cause of all this pain; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well. These words were said full tenderly, showing no manner of blame to me nor to any that shall be saved. Then were it a great unkindness to blame or wonder on God for my sin, since He blameth not me for sin. And in these words I saw a marvellous high mystery hid in God, which mystery He shall openly make known to us in Heaven: in which knowing we shall verily see the cause why He suffered sin to come. In which sight we shall endlessly joy in our Lord God.   --Julian of Norwich https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich