Forum Birdwatching 2012 - Page 7

joobie · 27th October 2012, 01:52 PM

adult male red-bellied woodpecker (melanerpes carolinus) by philside92, on Flickr

bruto · 27th October 2012, 02:01 PM

Once again without a camera at the time, but today out the back window of the house, for the first time ever, a FLOCK of bluebirds. There must have been at least a half dozen couples, gathering I imagine for the flight south. We've often seen a pair or two there in fall, but never this many. It was a blue blue morning!

dasmiller · 27th October 2012, 05:42 PM

Just arrived in Orlando for a business trip, with high hopes of seeing a bunch of birds I haven't seen before. On the drive from the airport to the hotel, I saw a group of 4 Sandhill cranes (hey, it's new for me) flying right over the highway.

I'm kinda geeked . . .

GeeMack · 27th October 2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by dasmiller

Just arrived in Orlando for a business trip, with high hopes of seeing a bunch of birds I haven't seen before. On the drive from the airport to the hotel, I saw a group of 4 Sandhill cranes (hey, it's new for me) flying right over the highway.

I'm kinda geeked . . .

Excellent. We see them occasionally when we go to the UP of Michigan.

macdoc · 27th October 2012, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Here are some bird pics I took over the weekend.
On the Breede river between Witsand and Malgas.

ah Witsan - lovely area - never had time to do any birding other than ogling ostriches on the way there from Montagu and one lovely secretary bird.

Great pics

••

Quote:

Once again without a camera at the time, but today out the back window of the house, for the first time ever, a FLOCK of bluebirds.

Blue birds in a flock?? Not blue jays?? Where the hell are you???

joobie · 28th October 2012, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by bruto

Once again without a camera at the time, but today out the back window of the house, for the first time ever, a FLOCK of bluebirds. There must have been at least a half dozen couples, gathering I imagine for the flight south. We've often seen a pair or two there in fall, but never this many. It was a blue blue morning!

i have 3 times now seen 7 or 8 cardinals grouped together, and each time been so bewildered by it there was no way i was going to be able to get a decent picture.

Henry Skinner · 28th October 2012, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by macdoc

Maybe someone could identify this. Shot in Norway in Sept.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...01284423PM.jpg

Little Auk^WP, I'd say.

macdoc · 28th October 2012, 07:56 AM

Thanks - was just a random shot while waiting for a ferry - thanks.

••

Some Aussie treats including the most dangerous bird in the world.

Cassowary

here's a video link of it with a chick -- really was special - click on the image to play

GF was chicken to hand feed the Kookaburras

They are much fun - again a video link.

Lovely catbird

and an alpha male purple swamphen posing

sphenisc · 28th October 2012, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Skinner

Little Auk^WP, I'd say.

Juvenile razorbill - beak's a little too big and showing beginning of the white vertical marking, also no white streaks showing in the secondary coverts.

Henry Skinner · 28th October 2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by sphenisc

Originally Posted by Henry Skinner

Little Auk^WP, I'd say.

Juvenile razorbill - beak's a little too big and showing beginning of the white vertical marking, also no white streaks showing in the secondary coverts.

Looks like you're right.

My excuse is that neither breed at the Dutch coast, so no juveniles here. Adults are a regular, though not common, sight in winter.

dasmiller · 28th October 2012, 03:35 PM

Made it out to Merritt Island in Florida today, which I recommend for anyone who's into wildlife photography. I'll post more over the next few days, but for now:

This time I have proof that it was a bald eagle:

Bald Eagle

It was windy, which meant that some of the flying birds were almost motionless. This can be handy:

Flyin' wit' th'buzzard

Finally, I don't often think of egrets as being particularly graceful, but:

Air Dance

macdoc · 28th October 2012, 04:21 PM

stunning

joobie · 29th October 2012, 04:36 AM

female american black duck (anas rubripes) 2 by philside92, on Flickr

macdoc · 29th October 2012, 12:32 PM

anyone got an ID for me - forest kingfisher - Tropical Queensland

sphenisc · 29th October 2012, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by macdoc

anyone got an ID for me - forest kingfisher - Tropical Queensland

Yeah, looks like Forest Kingfisher, incomplete collar suggests it's a female.

macdoc · 29th October 2012, 07:36 PM

I was actually calling it a forest Kingfisher as I did not know the name - is that the actual name??

dasmiller · 29th October 2012, 09:23 PM

More from my prematurely-concluded trip to Orlando, but that's a tale for another thread.
While these birds were at Gatorland, they're not captive. They're simply local birds that have learned that there's a lot of easy food at Gatorland.

First, a black vulture closeup:

Black vulture profile

I watched this wood stork coming in from quite a ways out, so I had time to reset the camera. He flew right over me, close enough that I remember thinking I needed to rotate the camera to get his wings to fit in the frame. This is cropped a bit, and he was receding by this point:

Wood Stork flyover

Third, this one probably was a captive at the park, but he was so colorful that I'm including him anyway:

Grumpy peacock

I have a lot of pictures left to go through.

dasmiller · 31st October 2012, 05:41 PM

More from Gatorland in Orlando. I'm posting these here because I'm not sure that anyone else I know would appreciate them. But the big birds were so close and so active that it made photography difficult!

First, a close flyby. This isn't a crop; I was zooming out but still couldn't get much of the bird in the frame as it went by:

Second, I was trying to get a picture of a nearby skirmish when another egret flew past and blocked my view:

But these are fun sorts of complaints to have, and I had an awful lot of 'keepers' from that set.

sphenisc · 1st November 2012, 08:57 AM

Interesting piece on bird phylogenetics

http://sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/famil...rsity-1.220940

macdoc · 1st November 2012, 10:07 AM

Sacred Kingfisher I am told by someone knowledgeable.
Todiramphus sanctus

BTW - this is a good resource and community
http://www.birdforum.net

Skwinty · 1st November 2012, 11:30 AM

This is Angie, the peregrine at radical raptors.

NoahFence · 1st November 2012, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by joobie

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8...41950279_b.jpg
adult male red-bellied woodpecker (melanerpes carolinus) by philside92, on Flickr

My wife keeps messing this up, calling it the red headed woodpecker. So we decided to come to a compromise and call it the red-bellyheaded woodpecker....

sphenisc · 1st November 2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Skwinty

This is Angie, the peregrine at radical raptors.
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...6_IMG_1972.jpg

Common Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus

Skwinty · 1st November 2012, 11:58 AM

I stand corrected.

I was thinking of this bird.

The tail feathers are quite similar.

Here is another shot of the Kestral

Quietus · 1st November 2012, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by sphenisc

Common Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus

You are correct. Kinda.

[pedant] Its a Rock Kestrel, which many authorities recognise as a seperate species F. Rupicolis. [/pedant off]

If anyone has greater knowledge of bird taxonomy now would be a good time to chip in...

Quietus · 1st November 2012, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Skwinty

I stand corrected.

I was thinking of this bird.

The tail feathers are quite similar.

I don't have my books with me and the fact that you are at a raptor project in Plett increases, not decreases possible IDs, but to my eyes that looks more like a Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus . (you will notice the lack of streaking on teh breast

And the one below looks like a male Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni not a Rock (common) Kestrel. (blue wing feathers, no black streaking on bakc)

Skwinty · 1st November 2012, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by Quietus

I don't have my books with me and the fact that you are at a raptor project in Plett increases, not decreases possible IDs, but to my eyes that looks more like a Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus . (you will notice the lack of streaking on teh breast

And the one below looks like a male Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni not a Rock (common) Kestrel. (blue wing feathers, no black streaking on bakc)

Indeed, I am no expert in bird identification and I visited Radical Raptors a few months ago.

I am not associated with Radical Raptors in any way other than sharing a love for birds.

I have some stunning shots of Aquila Verreauxii if you would like to see them.

Quietus · 2nd November 2012, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by Skwinty

I have some stunning shots of Aquila Verreauxii if you would like to see them.

If you have pictures of Verreaux's (Black) Eagles then why are you posting pictures of little falcons that would duck for cover when a crow flies overhead?

Quietus · 2nd November 2012, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by Skwinty

Here are some pics taken yesterday.

I think it's a red kite and it was exhibiting the exact behaviour that Shrike describes.

Not picking on you Skwinty but I am an avid birder and well-versed in birds in my area (south-western corner of South Africa) and you post all these pretty pictures without identifying the birds! This one could be a one of a number of species - where was this taken? More specifically, was it near or over water, especially reedbeds?

Skwinty · 2nd November 2012, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Quietus

<snip>where was this taken? More specifically, was it near or over water, especially reedbeds?

The Kite was taken from my backyard on the edge of Rietvlei.

Yes, there are lot's of reedbeds.

Lucian · 2nd November 2012, 09:33 AM

Okay, I don't have a picture, and it isn't a particularly unusual bird, but I thought it was pretty nifty: as I was standing behind my office building at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire today, a bald eagle flew by very low. Low enough that a dog in a neighboring yard barked cheerfully at it. I'd never seen one so close before. I imagine it may have been on its way to to have a bit of a soar over the river that runs through campus.

Skwinty · 2nd November 2012, 01:42 PM

African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus Vocifer.
Photographed last weekend over my house.

The eagle was at altitude so quite a severe crop on the picture.

and Blach Eagle Aquila Verreauxii

joobie · 4th November 2012, 12:15 AM

more shots of the same american black duck:

female american black duck (anas rubripes) 4 by philside92, on Flickr

female american black duck (anas rubripes) 5 by philside92, on Flickr

my dog tried to chase that duck, until the dog remembered how much she hates water. i missed the shots, though.

PetersCreek · 4th November 2012, 05:09 PM

No pics but we had some feathered company around the house today. The usual Black-capped Chickadees were around the feeder and several Common Redpolls were hanging around, waiting their turn. "Our" Steller's Jay came by (after being absent for some weeks) to hit us up for some peanuts...and "our" squirrel was kind enough to share. A Black-billed Magpie came by to case the joint but I don't think he scored any peanuts.

Skwinty · 5th November 2012, 12:04 AM

Yesterday I saw a crow drop something on my roof.

I went to investigate after chasing the crow away as it tried to retrieve its cargo.

This is what I found.

I had no idea that crows preyed on tortoises.

macdoc · 5th November 2012, 10:53 PM

Very likely something else killed the tortoise and the crow took the carcass

Skwinty · 5th November 2012, 11:05 PM

There is a possibility that the tortoise was killed by the council tractor mower that cuts the grass around the wetland reserve.

However, after some research, it appears that crows do indeed prey on tortoises.

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct...bcybuwHPoovc2Q

Quietus · 6th November 2012, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by Skwinty

There is a possibility that the tortoise was killed by the council tractor mower that cuts the grass around the wetland reserve.

However, after some research, it appears that crows do indeed prey on tortoises.

Crows are intelligent and opportunistic birds and the Pied Crow Corvus albus is no exception. The crow probably found part of the corpse and carried it away for a snack (as macdoc said) - the legs look rather dessicated. It appears to be a young adult Angulate Tortoise Chersina angulata deposited on your roof. At several kgs, this would be a bit much for a Pied Crow (max about 700 grams) to catch, let alone carry!

I can't confirm but I would imagine that a Pied Crow could catch - and carry - a Parrotbeaked Tortoise Homopus areolatus which weigh a maximum of 300 grams.

The Verreaux's eagle pic is much more impressive than the muscled doves you posted earlier!

macdoc · 6th November 2012, 05:29 AM

Given the broken bones I'd say it was a a steal or tractor kill that the crow snagged.

••••

Thought you might get a kick out of this one.

was watching either a suitor or a youngster trying to get the swallow on the right to come out a play and was getting the cold shoulder.

The bird on the left would cavort and loop and then come back to the wire and clearly try and get the other to join in.
Watched for about 10 min.
Shooting into the light so the sky completely washed out but I liked the photo. Barn swallows in fall plumage.

Skwinty · 6th November 2012, 05:51 AM

Here is another of the Black Eagle.

27th October 2012, 01:52 PM	#241
joobie i don't care Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my dreams, i am still in perú Posts: 2,517	adult male red-bellied woodpecker (melanerpes carolinus) by philside92, on Flickr
	__________________ Don't you just hate it when some uppity Black Guys escape from the Liberal Brainwash? - Robert Prey

27th October 2012, 02:01 PM	#242
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 11,187	Once again without a camera at the time, but today out the back window of the house, for the first time ever, a FLOCK of bluebirds. There must have been at least a half dozen couples, gathering I imagine for the flight south. We've often seen a pair or two there in fall, but never this many. It was a blue blue morning!
	__________________ "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.(Samuel Johnson) The gods are less for their love of praise....(Wendell Berry)

27th October 2012, 05:42 PM	#243
dasmiller Just the right amount of cowbell Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Well past Hither, looking for Yon Posts: 3,463	Just arrived in Orlando for a business trip, with high hopes of seeing a bunch of birds I haven't seen before. On the drive from the airport to the hotel, I saw a group of 4 Sandhill cranes (hey, it's new for me) flying right over the highway. I'm kinda geeked . . .
	__________________ "In times of war, we need warriors. But this isn't a war." - Phil Plaitt

27th October 2012, 11:31 PM	#245
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	Quote: Here are some bird pics I took over the weekend. On the Breede river between Witsand and Malgas. ah Witsan - lovely area - never had time to do any birding other than ogling ostriches on the way there from Montagu and one lovely secretary bird. Great pics •• Quote: Once again without a camera at the time, but today out the back window of the house, for the first time ever, a FLOCK of bluebirds. Blue birds in a flock?? Not blue jays?? Where the hell are you???
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009 Last edited by macdoc; 27th October 2012 at 11:34 PM.

28th October 2012, 12:01 AM	#246
joobie i don't care Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my dreams, i am still in perú Posts: 2,517	Originally Posted by bruto Once again without a camera at the time, but today out the back window of the house, for the first time ever, a FLOCK of bluebirds. There must have been at least a half dozen couples, gathering I imagine for the flight south. We've often seen a pair or two there in fall, but never this many. It was a blue blue morning! i have 3 times now seen 7 or 8 cardinals grouped together, and each time been so bewildered by it there was no way i was going to be able to get a decent picture.
	__________________ Don't you just hate it when some uppity Black Guys escape from the Liberal Brainwash? - Robert Prey

27th October 2012, 08:45 PM	#244
GeeMack Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Not Bandiagara Posts: 7,175	Originally Posted by dasmiller Just arrived in Orlando for a business trip, with high hopes of seeing a bunch of birds I haven't seen before. On the drive from the airport to the hotel, I saw a group of 4 Sandhill cranes (hey, it's new for me) flying right over the highway. I'm kinda geeked . . . Excellent. We see them occasionally when we go to the UP of Michigan.

28th October 2012, 06:33 AM	#247
Henry Skinner Scholar Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 113	Originally Posted by macdoc Maybe someone could identify this. Shot in Norway in Sept. http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...01284423PM.jpg Little Auk^WP, I'd say.
	__________________ Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett - Jingo

28th October 2012, 07:56 AM	#248
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	Thanks - was just a random shot while waiting for a ferry - thanks. •• Some Aussie treats including the most dangerous bird in the world. Cassowary here's a video link of it with a chick -- really was special - click on the image to play GF was chicken to hand feed the Kookaburras They are much fun - again a video link. Lovely catbird and an alpha male purple swamphen posing
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009

28th October 2012, 01:11 PM	#249
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	Originally Posted by Henry Skinner Little Auk^WP, I'd say. Juvenile razorbill - beak's a little too big and showing beginning of the white vertical marking, also no white streaks showing in the secondary coverts.
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	__________________ "The cure for everything is salt water - tears, sweat or the sea." Isak Dinesen

28th October 2012, 02:57 PM	#250
Henry Skinner Scholar Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 113	Originally Posted by sphenisc Originally Posted by Henry Skinner Little Auk^WP, I'd say. Juvenile razorbill - beak's a little too big and showing beginning of the white vertical marking, also no white streaks showing in the secondary coverts. Looks like you're right. My excuse is that neither breed at the Dutch coast, so no juveniles here. Adults are a regular, though not common, sight in winter.
	__________________ Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett - Jingo

28th October 2012, 03:35 PM	#251
dasmiller Just the right amount of cowbell Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Well past Hither, looking for Yon Posts: 3,463	Made it out to Merritt Island in Florida today, which I recommend for anyone who's into wildlife photography. I'll post more over the next few days, but for now: This time I have proof that it was a bald eagle: Bald Eagle It was windy, which meant that some of the flying birds were almost motionless. This can be handy: Flyin' wit' th'buzzard Finally, I don't often think of egrets as being particularly graceful, but: Air Dance
	__________________ "In times of war, we need warriors. But this isn't a war." - Phil Plaitt

28th October 2012, 04:21 PM	#252
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	stunning
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009

29th October 2012, 04:36 AM	#253
joobie i don't care Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my dreams, i am still in perú Posts: 2,517	female american black duck (anas rubripes) 2 by philside92, on Flickr
	__________________ Don't you just hate it when some uppity Black Guys escape from the Liberal Brainwash? - Robert Prey

29th October 2012, 12:32 PM	#254
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	anyone got an ID for me - forest kingfisher - Tropical Queensland
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009

29th October 2012, 02:24 PM	#255
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	Originally Posted by macdoc anyone got an ID for me - forest kingfisher - Tropical Queensland Yeah, looks like Forest Kingfisher, incomplete collar suggests it's a female.
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	__________________ "The cure for everything is salt water - tears, sweat or the sea." Isak Dinesen

29th October 2012, 07:36 PM	#256
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	I was actually calling it a forest Kingfisher as I did not know the name - is that the actual name??
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009

29th October 2012, 09:23 PM	#257
dasmiller Just the right amount of cowbell Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Well past Hither, looking for Yon Posts: 3,463	More from my prematurely-concluded trip to Orlando, but that's a tale for another thread. While these birds were at Gatorland, they're not captive. They're simply local birds that have learned that there's a lot of easy food at Gatorland. First, a black vulture closeup: Black vulture profile I watched this wood stork coming in from quite a ways out, so I had time to reset the camera. He flew right over me, close enough that I remember thinking I needed to rotate the camera to get his wings to fit in the frame. This is cropped a bit, and he was receding by this point: Wood Stork flyover Third, this one probably was a captive at the park, but he was so colorful that I'm including him anyway: Grumpy peacock I have a lot of pictures left to go through.
	__________________ "In times of war, we need warriors. But this isn't a war." - Phil Plaitt

31st October 2012, 05:41 PM	#258
dasmiller Just the right amount of cowbell Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Well past Hither, looking for Yon Posts: 3,463	More from Gatorland in Orlando. I'm posting these here because I'm not sure that anyone else I know would appreciate them. But the big birds were so close and so active that it made photography difficult! First, a close flyby. This isn't a crop; I was zooming out but still couldn't get much of the bird in the frame as it went by: Second, I was trying to get a picture of a nearby skirmish when another egret flew past and blocked my view: But these are fun sorts of complaints to have, and I had an awful lot of 'keepers' from that set.
	__________________ "In times of war, we need warriors. But this isn't a war." - Phil Plaitt

1st November 2012, 08:57 AM	#259
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	Interesting piece on bird phylogenetics http://sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/famil...rsity-1.220940
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	__________________ "The cure for everything is salt water - tears, sweat or the sea." Isak Dinesen

1st November 2012, 10:07 AM	#260
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	Sacred Kingfisher I am told by someone knowledgeable. Todiramphus sanctus BTW - this is a good resource and community http://www.birdforum.net
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009

1st November 2012, 11:30 AM	#261
Skwinty Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The far side Posts: 4,972	This is Angie, the peregrine at radical raptors.
	__________________ What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch. --Lily Tomlin

1st November 2012, 11:33 AM	#262
NoahFence Psycho Kitty Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Patriot Nation Posts: 9,322	Originally Posted by joobie http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8...41950279_b.jpg adult male red-bellied woodpecker (melanerpes carolinus) by philside92, on Flickr My wife keeps messing this up, calling it the red headed woodpecker. So we decided to come to a compromise and call it the red-bellyheaded woodpecker....
	__________________ Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake. -Henry David Thoreau

1st November 2012, 11:39 AM	#263
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	Originally Posted by Skwinty This is Angie, the peregrine at radical raptors. http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...6_IMG_1972.jpg Common Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus
sphenisc Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,749	__________________ "The cure for everything is salt water - tears, sweat or the sea." Isak Dinesen

1st November 2012, 11:58 AM	#264
Skwinty Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The far side Posts: 4,972	I stand corrected. I was thinking of this bird. The tail feathers are quite similar. Here is another shot of the Kestral
	__________________ What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch. --Lily Tomlin Last edited by Skwinty; 1st November 2012 at 12:21 PM.

1st November 2012, 10:49 PM	#265
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86	Originally Posted by sphenisc Common Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus You are correct. Kinda. [pedant] Its a Rock Kestrel, which many authorities recognise as a seperate species F. Rupicolis. [/pedant off] If anyone has greater knowledge of bird taxonomy now would be a good time to chip in...
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86

1st November 2012, 10:57 PM	#266
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86	Originally Posted by Skwinty I stand corrected. I was thinking of this bird. The tail feathers are quite similar. I don't have my books with me and the fact that you are at a raptor project in Plett increases, not decreases possible IDs, but to my eyes that looks more like a Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus . (you will notice the lack of streaking on teh breast And the one below looks like a male Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni not a Rock (common) Kestrel. (blue wing feathers, no black streaking on bakc)
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86

1st November 2012, 11:35 PM	#267
Skwinty Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The far side Posts: 4,972	Originally Posted by Quietus I don't have my books with me and the fact that you are at a raptor project in Plett increases, not decreases possible IDs, but to my eyes that looks more like a Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus . (you will notice the lack of streaking on teh breast And the one below looks like a male Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni not a Rock (common) Kestrel. (blue wing feathers, no black streaking on bakc) Indeed, I am no expert in bird identification and I visited Radical Raptors a few months ago. I am not associated with Radical Raptors in any way other than sharing a love for birds. I have some stunning shots of Aquila Verreauxii if you would like to see them.
	__________________ What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch. --Lily Tomlin

2nd November 2012, 01:40 AM	#268
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86	Originally Posted by Skwinty I have some stunning shots of Aquila Verreauxii if you would like to see them. If you have pictures of Verreaux's (Black) Eagles then why are you posting pictures of little falcons that would duck for cover when a crow flies overhead?
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86

2nd November 2012, 01:57 AM	#269
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86	Originally Posted by Skwinty Here are some pics taken yesterday. I think it's a red kite and it was exhibiting the exact behaviour that Shrike describes. Not picking on you Skwinty but I am an avid birder and well-versed in birds in my area (south-western corner of South Africa) and you post all these pretty pictures without identifying the birds! This one could be a one of a number of species - where was this taken? More specifically, was it near or over water, especially reedbeds?
Quietus Scholar Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 86

2nd November 2012, 08:59 AM	#270
Skwinty Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The far side Posts: 4,972	Originally Posted by Quietus <snip>where was this taken? More specifically, was it near or over water, especially reedbeds? The Kite was taken from my backyard on the edge of Rietvlei. Yes, there are lot's of reedbeds.
	__________________ What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch. --Lily Tomlin

2nd November 2012, 09:33 AM	#271
Lucian Master Poster Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,545	Okay, I don't have a picture, and it isn't a particularly unusual bird, but I thought it was pretty nifty: as I was standing behind my office building at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire today, a bald eagle flew by very low. Low enough that a dog in a neighboring yard barked cheerfully at it. I'd never seen one so close before. I imagine it may have been on its way to to have a bit of a soar over the river that runs through campus.
Lucian Master Poster Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,545	__________________ skepticalhumanities.com virtualskeptics.com

2nd November 2012, 01:42 PM	#272
Skwinty Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The far side Posts: 4,972	African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus Vocifer. Photographed last weekend over my house. The eagle was at altitude so quite a severe crop on the picture. and Blach Eagle Aquila Verreauxii
	__________________ What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch. --Lily Tomlin

4th November 2012, 12:15 AM	#273
joobie i don't care Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in my dreams, i am still in perú Posts: 2,517	more shots of the same american black duck: female american black duck (anas rubripes) 4 by philside92, on Flickr female american black duck (anas rubripes) 5 by philside92, on Flickr my dog tried to chase that duck, until the dog remembered how much she hates water. i missed the shots, though.
	__________________ Don't you just hate it when some uppity Black Guys escape from the Liberal Brainwash? - Robert Prey

4th November 2012, 05:09 PM	#274
PetersCreek Muse Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 551	No pics but we had some feathered company around the house today. The usual Black-capped Chickadees were around the feeder and several Common Redpolls were hanging around, waiting their turn. "Our" Steller's Jay came by (after being absent for some weeks) to hit us up for some peanuts...and "our" squirrel was kind enough to share. A Black-billed Magpie came by to case the joint but I don't think he scored any peanuts.
PetersCreek Muse Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 551

5th November 2012, 12:04 AM	#275
Skwinty Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The far side Posts: 4,972	Yesterday I saw a crow drop something on my roof. I went to investigate after chasing the crow away as it tried to retrieve its cargo. This is what I found. I had no idea that crows preyed on tortoises.
	__________________ What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch. --Lily Tomlin