Novelist Tom McGuane, while noted for his horses and pointing dogs, has always had a feel for birds of prey, notices them, and on occasion writes lyrically about them. There is a vivid set piece in the novel Something to Be Desired, in which which the protagonist, LucienTaylor, takes his young son, who does not …
Tag: Raptors
Two Videos for your weekend pleasure
And to end the week with something more than the exploits of idiots. Both from the same shop at the Beeb, the one that gave you Goshawks flying in slow motion through holes in a wall; the first via Lucas Machias. I have seen the second and it goes well here.
Scene of the Crime
Is that feathers I see? Maybe this guy?
Ornithology
Bear with me for a little more photoblogging, as I am getting some work done. Here are two NM nests that fledged young this year, a Goshawk and a Peregrine, courtesy of Paul Domski.
Hybrid Update
Terence Wright just last night sent this photo of the hybrid Black X Red Shouldered Hawk in CA, with this short note: “Here is a pic of the hybrid chick during banding.” We will continue to add any updates. I want to see what it looks like after it fledges– those are two such different …
Curious?
Another species of raptor that seems to be joining the Peregrine, the Kestrel, and (at least in the Southwest) the Cooper’s as a city dweller is the redtail. This amazingly bold first year bird is apparently observing the habits of my sister Anita St John in her office on Beacon Hill in Boston (Mass General …
Argentavis magnificens
The BIG bird. Moro correctly guessed — no, knew- what the huge black cutout a few posts ago represented: the the biggest bird that ever flew, and one of the biggest flying creatures– only Azdarchid pterosaurs were larger. As far as I know (Therese? Darren?), its taxonomy seems a bit vague, and its habits disputed. …
“The crows were very large near the old nuclear test sites in eastern Kazakhstan”
What is this? More images when I return.
Osprey
John Wilson photographed this osprey near Magdalena. It is not the first I know of– I think I have seen three over 30 years– but it is the first photographed. But what is this semi- obligate piscivore doing 30 miles from any fish that is not in a freezer? “Lake Magdalena” (the sewage pond) has …
Predator
Our last winter predator is an adult male Coopers hawk in beautiful plumage, and despite my admiration for his kind I hope he moves on to nest– I don’t relish keeping my pigeons in for very long. He allowed me to get even closer, but this was the best I could do; the photo is …