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It didn’t occur to me till I started reading The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird that there was also a possible threat to the eagle herself: poachers, who steal raptor eggs and chicks. McWilliam realizes he’s dealing someone special, a career falcon egg-thief.
Here’s a prediction: Parrots , falcons , and seriemas are on their way to new positions in your checklists and, eventually, field guides. However, evidence has mounted in recent years that falcons are not closely related to other diurnal raptors and seriemas don’t belong anywhere near gruiform birds. I like this one too.)
Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ) at Delevan NWR (click on photos for full sized images). I’m sure most of you know that the Peregrine Falcon became an endangered species because of the use of organochlorine pesticides, especially DDT, during the 1950′s, 60′s, and 70′s. Love those talons!
On BirdTrack, the British equivalent of e-Bird, the list of birds provided does allow for Tufted Duck x Ferruginous Duck to be recorded, but not Tufted Duck x Pochard. However, that’s exactly what I guessed the duck swimming in front of me had to be. My hunch was Tufted Duck x Pochard.
The usual ducks were also present – Black-bellied Whistling Duck and White-cheeked Pintail. Both of these are dabbling ducks while the scaups are divers. Checking some of the other ponds revealed more ducks, namely a group of ten Blue-winged Teal and a staggering number of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.
Whistling Kites and Black Kites were active in the area too due to the nearby fire and we observed a Brown Falcon perched in a nearby tree. There were several ducks around the water body and they included Pacific Black Ducks , Plumed Whistling-Ducks and Wandering Whistling-Ducks. Ducks, Ibis and Egrets.
Get lucky, and you may see Canvasbacks , American and Least Bitterns, a Peregrine Falcon , a Northern Harrier or two, and Soras, as well as Chihuahuan Ravens and Cactus Wrens on the lake’s north shore. To the best of my knowledge, Ducks Unlimited is the one American organization working to protect the wetlands of Lago de Cuitzeo.
Rarest among the ones we saw was the endangered Saker Falcon. Finally, if you want to know about the use of the word “duck” in a slightly uncommon meaning, follow this link. Himalayan Marmot. Himalayan Pica. Possibly, as a result, they look much cuter than the vultures. Where’s Waldo?
But I’ll trade Red-taileds any day for a Northern Harrier , a lovely pair of Peregrine Falcons , and the surprising presence of a pair of Crested Caracaras , normally seen at much lower elevations. A wonderfully close Peregrine Falcon. Believe it or not, Caracaras (in spite of their 4-foot wingspan) are falcons, not hawks.
However, you can’t come to this small Central American country to see the following birds because they are gone: White-faced Whistling-duck : Yes, this cool looking duck used to build nests, breed, and dabble around the wetlands of Costa Rica and this is why you will see it illustrated in Stiles and Skutch.
It protects familiar visitors like cardinals and chickadees; raptors such as bald eagles and prairie falcons, and, of course, the many ducks and other waterfowl that sportsmen treasure. First passed in 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is one of America’s original conservation laws.
North American Peregrine Falcons have also enjoyed an impressive population rebound in recent years. Raptors and other predatory birds have largely rebounded, and there seems to be be no shortage of Brown Pelicans, Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles. A curious Laysan Duck takes a stroll at Midway Atoll. Half Moon Bay, CA.
I’m getting swept up and unduly influenced by duck anatomy and countless pictures of avian copulation. Prairie Falcon from behind. I know it’s dangerous to title a post “Birds From Behind” during “Bird Love Week” but I have to admit… it’s kind of the point. Snowy Egret from behind.
Our first stop at the World’s Fair Marina was all I’d hoped for – lots of ducks and a not-too-energetic stroll over level ground to see them. At Powell’s Cove Park we got Great Blue Heron , and at Francis Lewis Park we spotted our first Peregrine Falcon , looking tiny far atop the Whitestone Bridge.
There was a large raft of hundreds of American Coot , an American White Pelican and lots of duck species. I will not name all ducks, but Bufflehead and Canvasback were lifers so they deserve a call-out. Sandpipers up in the air and a general panic among the coots and ducks. The birds warmed us too. What a spectacle.
The many small ponds and waterways attract quite a few ducks, though presumably due to their China experience, they are extremely wary of people. Ferruginous Ducks are relatively rare here – a pity, given how attractive they are. Mandarin Ducks look a bit like they have just been stolen from a toy shop, at least the males.
For example, the White-headed Duck is nowadays a rarity in Europe (okay, excluding Spain, I know… that Spain …), but until some 50 years ago, it used to breed in Serbia. The hide overlooking the breeding colony of Red-footed Falcons. View from the Subotica Sands photographic hide.
A tiny flock of Northern Pintail – another strong contender for the hotly contested title of most beautiful North American duck – swooped in and settled near a single, still-eclipsed Common Merganser and an equally lone American Coot. How could a lake in such a location fail to call out to waterfowl?
So if you come to Spring Wings, and you’d be well served if you do, get ready to see lots and lots of shorebirds and ducks and waders. Speaking of hawks, two talented and extremely knowledgeable falconers, Marie Gaspari Crawford and Chloe Bowen, shared with us their birds and their experiences.
The rest of the day looked something like this… Sunrise at Salineño for tons of RGV specialties , including a decidedly unmanky Muscovy Duck ! Team from left: Andy, Brian, Dave, Joel, Clay Scanning fruitlessly for Rock Wren in the Falcon Dam area. The team cleaned up in this fertile birding region.
The only falcon that has the manoeuverability to chase and catch swallows in flight… a few pirouettes later, he leaves with empty talons. A dozen Ferruginous Ducks and several Garganeys in the shallows of the floodzone. One Western Marsh Harrier … and my first Lesser Grey Shrike this year.
I was eager to see if our winter ducks and shorebirds had arrived. That suits our winter ducks just fine, except when this part of the lake dries up completely, as it does in some dry years. There were Gadwalls and Blue and Green-winged Teals , plus, of course, our resident Cinnamon Teals, Ruddy , and Mexican Ducks.
Closer looks revealed large numbers of White-faced Whistling Ducks as well as a few American Golden-Plovers. It was impossible to not stop when we saw this absolutely gorgeous Aplomado Falcon along the road. After much distraction, we finally arrived at the field with all the activity that I mentioned earlier.
Ducks and herons include Garganey and Ferruginous Duck , Squacco and Purple Herons , as well as the Eurasian Spoonbill. It is a shallow, 150 ha large reservoir made by damming the stream of Kladnica in 1970s and lies 55 km southwest of Belgrade, halfway between the towns of Lazarevac and Ub. eBird bar chart. #4 eBird bar chart. #2
The park even features a Welcome Back Waterfowl day when the community is encouraged to come out and learn about the ducks, geese, and swans that visit the valley – an event that usually occurs in early April but this year took place on March 24. As a result, early migration season is an excellent time to visit.
A pair of Muscovy Ducks lounged in a distant tree. Snail Kite Muscovy Duck White-tailed Goldenthroat This small group of Lineated Woodpeckers were deeply engaged in some form of discussion. I was excited to land my first Laughing Falcon , a charismatic species that I had been drooling over for years. A lek of which species?
Sooner or later I will borrow a card reader and get those pictures downloaded but in the meantime I think I have some pretty decent shots, like the Peregrine Falcon at Jones Beach that led off this blog post. Ruddy Ducks almost invariably make me happy. I wish the Ruddy Duck had used this Canvasback as an role model.
The main reason was the Ferruginous Duck which duly showed up, but to my surprise, followed by a kettle of two dozen Whiskered Terns… Wait! By the end of the wood, there’s a small wetland, a huge bird above, one more White Stork? An immature White-tailed Eagle. Soon I see a huge bird again. The same eagle? No, this time it’s a Black Stork !
Make seeing the Shoebill a priority and, if possible, seek it out in Mabamba Swamp. Very happy birders who traveled from all around the world for this very moment.
Originating from the word “Rapon” which translates to Black-bellied Whistling Duck in the Makushi language, the Rupununi River flows north and then east, where it then joins the mighty Essequibo River that flows northward through the rest of Guyana, ultimately meeting its end at the country’s (only) Atlantic coast.
l-r) Brushland Tinamou ( Nothoprocta cinerascens ), Southern Cassowary ( Casuarius casuarius ), Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), Mandarin Duck ( Aix galericulata ). Have you noticed ducks and quail replacing loons and grebes at the beginning of newer bird field guides and checklists? This is why. Hackett et al.
There were Plumed Whistling-Ducks , Radjah Shelducks with ducklings, Common Sandpipers , Wood Sandpipers, Pied Herons, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt and Magpie Geese. A Black Falcon was perched in the top of a tree as we circumnavigated the ponds and Peaceful and Diamond Doves flew in over the fence for water.
Red-footed Falcons , Whiskered and Black Terns by mid-April, White-winged Terns are passing about a week later. Garganey and Ferruginous Duck , as well as Goosanders (aka Common Mergansers) at mountain reservoirs – they are all busy nesting. With cold spells comes the rare Long-tailed Duck.
In our early birding days, Erik and I had one of our most hilarious bird-related fights while looking at a flotilla of ducks in Mission Bay yelling at each other about field marks before realizing we were looking at two different ducks. This makes it a prime spot for bicycle-birding, our niche at the festival.
The Mallard did something that all dabbling ducks can do but I haven’t seen any of them doing it but this one – it took a dive and disappeared underwater. (My … To everyone’s delight, a Saker Falcon soon appeared, offering excellent views as it banked in a long stoop after a hapless distant passerine.
Among our highlights were 5 doves species, a full 9 hummingbirds, 6 herons/egrets, 3 hawks and 2 falcons, 4 woodpeckers, all of 12 Tyrant Flycatchers, 3 vireos, 6 New World Sparrows, 4 New World Orioles in different shades of orange, 16 New World Warblers, 2 tanagers, and 6 grosbeaks and buntings.
The bird family that got his attention was originally the herons, egrets and other wading birds, but as time went on New World warblers, woodpeckers and ducks fueled the passion further.
Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.
We saw this Laughing Falcon on the side of the road. Lesser Scaup and a Ring-necked Duck were kind of unexpected at a small reservoi r. It was a coffee stop so we didn’t stay for birds but couldn’t help looking at Violet Sabrewing and Green Thorntail. This is not a Violet Sabrewing, nor is it a wasp in flight.
Raptors to look for in this reserve are Golden Eagle and Short-toed Snake Eagle , European Honey-buzzard and Peregrine Falcon. More open woodland and scrub holds Red-backed Shrike , Common Redstart , Sombre Tit , Icterine Warbler , Common Nightingale and Cirl Bunting. About 120 species have been recorded so far.
Seasonally, a good number of ducks were there too along with loons and other choice waterbirds. This morning, the surprise was the call of Laughing Falcon. It was also a short walk to a sliver of wild, to the veritable bird important habitats of the Niagara Gorge where hundreds, even thousands, of gulls could be seen.
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