I saw some birds!

[ritchiera]

Was out scoping the local RT population today here in Utah. I have noted that most of you like the RT. I found a great link this evening and thought I might share that too. www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/RTHA.html

There is a white RT on this page that looks like snow.

Bob

[ritchiera]

Wow, Checking out that page a little more I found the raptor section that even has some pdf's with locations of sightings (mostly Colorado). However, There are a lot of pics for bird identification on this page. Enjoy.

www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Raptors.html

Bob

[Weasel]

Bob, I am jealous of you living in Utah. I just drove through there and I had to wipe the drool off of my chin regularly as I looked at the habitat. We went through Salt lake and then took a side road to Price. From there we traveled to Grand Junction CO. We spotted quite a few RT's along the route too.

[Minca]

Yup! and I was just looking it up last night, I think some of the birds we saw may have been swainsons, too. But we did see all kinds of cool things along the way, including some RTs on nests! Would've been cool to get video footage of some of those that were kiting. That just seems like it gotta be a workout to me..

[frootdog]

Hey Minca welcome to TX
Right now in the DFW area there are a lot of Swainson's moving through.

[Weasel]

......and tornado's......Sheesh! One just missed my house today!

[Hawklyon]

IN 1974 I was 14 and lived on the island of Kodiak Alaska. I lived on a cape called Chiniak that was 50 miles from the town of Kodiak. We lived 300 yards from the cliff that overlooked the ocean. One day in spring there was a big falcon (crow size) on our garden post. Because of youth and inexperience, it took me years to identify it.

Can You?

Other than Bald Eagles and big white owl's (what kind are they?) What other birds of prey exist or pass through Kodiak Island Alaska?

This is a falconry trivia question. Are you up to it?

[Tiercel78]

Well my guess is that you saw a Peregrine. Now what sub-species is a little harder. The big Peale's birds are known for nesting on Northren Pacific Coastal Cliffs. There is also a Aleutian which I belive may be considered a sub-speices. If it was a migrant then I would guess a Tundris. Course,you could get some Gyrs there too. My first guess is a Peale's Peregrine though.

[Hawklyon]

Very good Tiercel78.
It was a Peale's. It was so cool that other than a kestrel, a peregrine was the first wild falcon I ever saw. At the time falconry was not permitted in the State of Alaska. Too bad cause I could have had several years of early experience. Instead I had to wait til I was 33. Better late than never and I have spent the last 12 years making up for lost time!

[Tiercel78]

Thanks. If I move back to a area where there is more game for the larger falcons. I will probally fly a peregrine or maybe a hybrid. I need to come back home to TX or go to MO.

[nates]

went out checking a hot spot this morning and found 7 imature redtails within a 1/2 mile radius. 3 of them where airborne and watched them "crabbing" for about ten minutes until an extremely dark morph caught my eye. Why cant it be september already??? Any way , looks like trapping season is going to be fun this year.

[Weasel]

I was out mountain biking yesterday and I stopped to watch an immature RT sitting on a branch over a river bank. He was mobbed to death by about 5 mockingbirds....poor thing was trying his best to just ignore them, but the kept whacking him on the back.

[frootdog]

The mocking birds killed him!? ;D

[Weasel]

[kenbro77]

I have been seeing a lot of Mississippi Kites in the Wichita Falls area. They are going nuts on the crickets in the area. Just wondering if any one else in North Texas has been seeing more than usual this year. (not crickets)