Scott, the rough legged was hunting voles over a large estuary on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Winter. I'm guessing it was a juvenile, just going by its lack of concern about quite a number of humans stalking it, especially that guy in the bright red coat. I would think an adult would be more skittish, but I'm no bird expert.
Got any bird pics?
- Thread starter Wadin' Boot
- Start date
I think that it is a ferruginous hawk. The breast is almost completely white. The shoulders are rusty red. And the head is dark gray. SeeThat is one beautiful bird! Is it a red tail? Hawks can have so many colour variations, it's confusing to me. There's great picture galleries on Cornell University's bird site that help me, but I'm stumped on this one.
Red-tailed Hawk Photos and Videos for, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
This is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got sharp eyes you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride, anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you’ll see them atop telephone poles...www.allaboutbirds.org
Ferruginous Hawk Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Found in prairies, deserts, and open range of the West, the regal Ferruginous Hawk hunts from a lone tree, rock outcrop, or from high in the sky. This largest of North American hawks really is regal—its species name is regalis—with a unique gray head, rich, rusty (ferruginous) shoulders and...
www.allaboutbirds.org
Rob Allen
Life of the Party
Ferruginous is what we thought too..I think that it is a ferruginous hawk. The breast is almost completely white. The shoulders are rusty red. And the head is dark gray. See
SteveFerruginous Hawk Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Found in prairies, deserts, and open range of the West, the regal Ferruginous Hawk hunts from a lone tree, rock outcrop, or from high in the sky. This largest of North American hawks really is regal—its species name is regalis—with a unique gray head, rich, rusty (ferruginous) shoulders and...
I tend to think of ferruginous as an east of the mountains bird. Haven’t really expected them as a wet side bird. I know my sister, with WDFW , cataloged nests on the dry side. I defer to others .
The breast looked like rough-legged to this guy.
The breast looked like rough-legged to this guy.
After a bit more looking sure looks much more a ferruginous.
I will defer to others.
Nice back and forth.
I will defer to others.
Nice back and forth.
Gyrfalcon22
Legend
I had quite an interesting day locally. I was up looking for the local golden eagle when a birder came by. He graciously alerted me that there was a Common Crane on the far side of the loop. Went home and grabbed a bike and peddled against a brutal cold east wind for about 3 miles and ran into birders that had heard the news via rare bird reports and hit the road. It all happened fast. The crane was mixed with Sandhills and very far away when I first saw..like 500-600 yards far. It eventually moved to another road and there I saw one of those dreaded birdwatcher-jam spectacles. Scopes and cars scattered everywhere. Sheriff quickly came by and had people move some of their vehicles.
Did meet some very nice bird folks. Serious people to drop and make a dash that fast. I left with some really blurry shots from about 300 yards away.
I am not a life-lister, but this is only the 2nd recorded in WA state. The 1st was only a couple years back of a Common crane on the Skagit. That one stayed around for a bit I guess. I sort of have a feeling this one will be gone in the morning. Just a hunch, nothing else.
You can see the Common crane mixed with a Trumpeter swan, and a Sandhill crane. I should have a new lens in a week or less so my photo quality should improve !
Common Crane far right
Middle here
Showing his darker wings here
Did meet some very nice bird folks. Serious people to drop and make a dash that fast. I left with some really blurry shots from about 300 yards away.
I am not a life-lister, but this is only the 2nd recorded in WA state. The 1st was only a couple years back of a Common crane on the Skagit. That one stayed around for a bit I guess. I sort of have a feeling this one will be gone in the morning. Just a hunch, nothing else.
You can see the Common crane mixed with a Trumpeter swan, and a Sandhill crane. I should have a new lens in a week or less so my photo quality should improve !
Common Crane far right
Middle here
Showing his darker wings here
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Had a little backyard National Geographic stuff go on this morning....a thrush crashed into a window while attempting to escape from a Coopers Hawk. The thrush died so I moved it a bit further from the house, hoping the hawk would return.
Got a short video but it was too big to upload so here's a series of dumbed down photos....
It took him a bit to feel confident enough to return for the thrush. I think he was concerned about getting mugged by Santa or the Nutcracker
Got a short video but it was too big to upload so here's a series of dumbed down photos....
It took him a bit to feel confident enough to return for the thrush. I think he was concerned about getting mugged by Santa or the Nutcracker
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Bonefish Jack
Steelhead
Spending the winter holiday season in Puerto Vallarta. Some fun birds to observe, though they are difficult to photograph. The soaring birds of the coastline are great to watch – from the lines of pelicans, to the large soaring vultures, to the very large (literally hundreds) mixed flocks of swifts and various swallows. And the frigates are truly magnificent.
However, I am having difficulty accurately identifying this soaring bird of the beaches. I ran it through my Merlin app, and the mostly reliable app came up with Blue-gray Tanager, which doesn’t seem right. (See screenshot)
I would appreciate help from anyone who knows this bird.
However, I am having difficulty accurately identifying this soaring bird of the beaches. I ran it through my Merlin app, and the mostly reliable app came up with Blue-gray Tanager, which doesn’t seem right. (See screenshot)
I would appreciate help from anyone who knows this bird.
Attachments
Homo Parachuticus?
Bonefish Jack
Steelhead
Here’s a Vallarta bird that was easy to photograph. This is the Social Flycatcher.
Bonefish Jack
Steelhead
Maybe Homo Suicidalus Parachuticus ?
I lucked out with another raptor encounter the other day. This was in a marshy nature preserve on Vancouver Island. Just as I was getting my camera out of my backpack, this juvenile red tail hawk (I was told by another birder who was there) launched out of a tree, flew into the bulrushes, and brought a vole back onto a branch right in front of us.
The last shot was the hawk wiping its mouth off, after finishing its meal. I thought that was very conservation-minded of it: Save a napkin, save a tree!
The last shot was the hawk wiping its mouth off, after finishing its meal. I thought that was very conservation-minded of it: Save a napkin, save a tree!
Bajema
Life of the Party
Nice! I managed to get down to Skagit to see the first one in 2021. I saw the report come through the other day on this one. I’ve haven’t seen that it’s been confirmed yet, I know there was some discussion about it being a possible hybrid. Cool too see either way.
Gyrfalcon22
Legend
Yes. Talked to more than a couple that had that concern, of being a hybrid. From the photos of the Skagit bird this one is in less high color. That bird was April I think (?) so maybe that played a part as well. One gentleman told me they are on a 3 year juvenile to adult plumage plan. Have not researched it enough. I avoided the crowd today, but it has a three day running distant showing.
