We woke up to a red-shouldered hawk sitting in a tree across the street. Good morning!
Then, Lorelei and I went to try our luck at seeing the bald eagle again. She had been asleep when we saw it a few days ago. And today, she got to see it!
Not a National Geographic pic, but way better than what I got the first time.
And then it flew away, to go catch a fish.
Then it was to RAPTOR to grab some stuff, and near RAPTOR is Winton Woods, a very nice county park with a settling pond. And hunting the field near the pond was a male American kestrel:
This is actually the clearest picture I have ever taken of a wild kestrel.
His 'tocks.
This isn't too bad, but the lighting during a cloudy day is for crap.
Amazing how such a small, sweet-looking bird can be such a fierce predator (well, I'm sure they seem fierce if you are a grasshopper or a vole.)
And THEN....
Leaving the park, I spotted a hawk, all fluffed out hawk, scanning the field on the other side:
Okay, my little disciples...who can tell me what kind of hawk this is?
One hint: It is a buteo.
You can't see the tail, so you will have to ascertain the ID by what you see. And it was hunting at the edge of the woods, looking out over an open field.
Make me proud!
On the way home, I spotted FOUR different red-shouldered hawks in different locations.
Today was uber-raptorlicious.
That's eight separate birds of prey.
You may now adore and worship me.
7 comments:
I promise not to give away your hawk ID! But will check back to make sure it's what I think it is! Wonderful day you had and kestrel's are faves of mine also! High five on the Adult Bald! The Adults never let me get close to them!
Hey, WHERE did you see the bald eagle?
Is that last photo a loon?
Will adoration and worship supplemented by envy work?
Great shots.
uber-raptorlicious - nice one! I like it and will borrow it from you!
Red-tailed Hawk. The key field mark is the white belly w/ the breast band. (I think.) But, I can't tell if it is passage or haggard.
Is the Bald Eagle the one at the Camp Dennison gravel pits?
Hey, have you heard the reports from Armleder? It is Raptor-palooza there these days: "7 Northern Harriers (only 1 adult male), 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 4 American Kestrels" That Rough-legged would be a sweet bird. I only have 1 unconfirmed sighting of one.
~Kathi, whose life is interfering with her birding habit
Wow Susan! What a great day you had! Love the Eagle and Kestrel, yay!!
You are the Raptor Queen. I am on my knees...
What a great day!!!!
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