Can You Help Identify This Raptor?

Rattlesnake Gal · 05-28-2005, 10:59 AM

This mystery raptor flew over this morning with it's prey, which looks like a blue jay. I cannot figure out what it is.
My bird book is at home and the internet on the island is too slow for research.
Can you help identify this raptor?

The raptor is eating, that's what is hanging out of it's mouth.

Thanks for the help!
RG

stingray60 · 05-28-2005, 11:12 AM

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Osprey?

DRH · 05-28-2005, 03:05 PM

Congratulations, RG! Mrs. DRH found your bird in "Peterson Field Guides - Eastern Birds". Compare your photo to the book's drawing of a Peregrine Falcon. Nice catch!

Rattlesnake Gal · 05-28-2005, 04:45 PM

Thank you Mrs. DRH!
Wow! This is the first sighting of a Peregrine Falcon for me. I feel very lucky.
What a sight it was when it flew in with another bird in it’s talons!
(Hopefully our dog is too big at seventeen pounds to be prey!)
I was trying to get into a better photographic position, when Rattlesnake Dog voiced his displeasure at being left behind on the deck.
Sadly he scared the falcon away. Glad I got a couple of shots in before that happened.
Very cool, a great way to start my day.
Thanks again!
RG

Fat Jack · 05-29-2005, 04:41 PM

The bird he is eating is a juvenile Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

DRH · 05-30-2005, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Jack

The bird he is eating is a juvenile Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

More like a teenage Blue Jay, I think!

donnamatrix · 05-31-2005, 08:07 AM

Hi. Love the pix of the Peregrine Falcon. How exciting. If you are interested, there are several bird cams around the US focused on these birds. One is at the Kodak building in Rochester, NY
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQueri...equestid=13894

Another is at UC Santa Cruz, although it's been pretty empty, as the falcons in Santa Cruz are just about fully grown right now.
http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/falconcamera.htm

Another site, is www.palemale.com, which is the site in NYC where Pale Male and Lola, two red tail hawks, live. Their nest was destroyed by the BOD of the building on 5th avenue (this is where Mary Tyler Moore and others live) back in December. But after a great deal of anguish, the spikes were replaced. The spikes allegedly keep pigeons off the building, but they are also the anchors for the huge nest the falcons build. The eggs have not hatched, perhaps due to stress of the bird. But they were photographed this weekend mating again, which is unusual at this time of year.

Yes, we are avid, crazed bird watchers!!

Rattlesnake Gal · 05-31-2005, 07:43 PM

Thanks for those links donnamatrix!
Rattlesnake Guy and I both enjoyed them very much. Very cool stuff.

DRH · 05-31-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Thanks for those links donnamatrix!
Rattlesnake Guy and I both enjoyed them very much. Very cool stuff.

I agree with RG, donnamatrix. It's fascinating to watch the adult peregrine falcon and the youngsters on the Kodak Birdcam.

Pepper · 05-31-2005, 10:04 PM

Oh, Donnamatrix, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's hooked on Pale Male and Lola! I check the site every day for updates, and was heartbroken the past few weeks! It will be so amazing to see what happens - if anything - from this new series of matings! I'm keeping them in my prayers, no matter how silly that sounds to anyone.

lakegirl · 06-01-2005, 08:08 AM

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good bird book(s)? I checked amazon.com.... there are so many my head was spinning trying to pick out one that would be informative and best suited to this geographical area???

Zee · 06-01-2005, 10:58 AM

I have been an avid birder for many years and have at least six various bird guides. My favorite and the one I keep my life list in is the Golden Guide by St. Marten's Press. I have about six copies of the older light blue covered book, one in each car, the boat, the knapsack, the kitchen table, etc. There is a new and revised edition that is equally as good. The reason I like this book is that the field identification, range, sonogram, sex variations and description are all on the same page. You don't have to flip from the color plate to a different part of the book for the description and range. The birds are also seperated by taxonomy rather than similar colors as are some books. I feel this is the best all around book.

frank m. · 06-01-2005, 09:14 PM

We had an adult bald eagle around for a while on Saturday.

ApS · 09-15-2009, 02:27 AM

Saturday, we saw a Peregrine Falcon begin an impressive dive from only about 150' above the lake. We never saw the finish of the dive (a falcon's "stoop"), but a group of crows got noisily excited afterwards! (Crows are on a falcon's menu).

A large Cooper's Hawk paid a brief visit yesterday. (Too brief for a photo—this is a "file photo").

Both of these sightings occurred just days after our bird feeder got put out for the first time this season. Which birds are we feeding?

(Falcons and Cooper's seek mostly bird prey).

It's possible that the Peregrine was a falconer's pet, as we have a open 100-acre field nearby.

Lakesrider · 09-15-2009, 04:57 PM

Can't remember if I posted it or not but I had a Falcon fly through my yard a week or so past. Caught a squirrel. Started to pick it apart on my boat....

I scared it away trying to get a shot with my camera. but boy did it fly right past me at high speed. maybe 10-15 feet away. Scared me as i didn't know what had just whizzed by. But I am certainly quite happy to see the hunters coming back. I have seen more eagles, Falcons, hawks, Owls this year than the last few. I hope they make a comeback. Oh and I Just remembered. I saw a Falcon sitting on top of a telephone pole last week on Rt 109 near the Moultonborough/Tuftonboro line. There is that electric pole service alley that they like to fly down looking for food. I really should be paying attention to the road instead eh?

05-28-2005, 10:59 AM	#1
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Can You Help Identify This Raptor? This mystery raptor flew over this morning with it's prey, which looks like a blue jay. I cannot figure out what it is. My bird book is at home and the internet on the island is too slow for research. Can you help identify this raptor? The raptor is eating, that's what is hanging out of it's mouth. Thanks for the help! RG

05-28-2005, 03:05 PM	#3
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,199 Thanked 675 Times in 178 Posts	Peregrine Falcon! Congratulations, RG! Mrs. DRH found your bird in "Peterson Field Guides - Eastern Birds". Compare your photo to the book's drawing of a Peregrine Falcon. Nice catch! __________________ DRH

05-28-2005, 04:45 PM	#4
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Thanks! Thank you Mrs. DRH! Wow! This is the first sighting of a Peregrine Falcon for me. I feel very lucky. What a sight it was when it flew in with another bird in it’s talons! (Hopefully our dog is too big at seventeen pounds to be prey!) I was trying to get into a better photographic position, when Rattlesnake Dog voiced his displeasure at being left behind on the deck. Sadly he scared the falcon away. Glad I got a couple of shots in before that happened. Very cool, a great way to start my day. Thanks again! RG

05-31-2005, 08:07 AM	#7
donnamatrix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 833 Thanks: 24 Thanked 258 Times in 120 Posts	Peregrine Falcon bird cams Hi. Love the pix of the Peregrine Falcon. How exciting. If you are interested, there are several bird cams around the US focused on these birds. One is at the Kodak building in Rochester, NY http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQueri...equestid=13894 Another is at UC Santa Cruz, although it's been pretty empty, as the falcons in Santa Cruz are just about fully grown right now. http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/falconcamera.htm Another site, is www.palemale.com, which is the site in NYC where Pale Male and Lola, two red tail hawks, live. Their nest was destroyed by the BOD of the building on 5th avenue (this is where Mary Tyler Moore and others live) back in December. But after a great deal of anguish, the spikes were replaced. The spikes allegedly keep pigeons off the building, but they are also the anchors for the huge nest the falcons build. The eggs have not hatched, perhaps due to stress of the bird. But they were photographed this weekend mating again, which is unusual at this time of year. Yes, we are avid, crazed bird watchers!!

05-31-2005, 07:43 PM	#8
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Great Links! Thanks for those links donnamatrix! Rattlesnake Guy and I both enjoyed them very much. Very cool stuff.

05-28-2005, 11:12 AM	#2
stingray60 Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 16 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	undefinedundefined Osprey?

05-29-2005, 04:41 PM	#5
Fat Jack Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The bird he is eating is a juvenile Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

05-31-2005, 10:04 PM	#10
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	Oh, Donnamatrix, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's hooked on Pale Male and Lola! I check the site every day for updates, and was heartbroken the past few weeks! It will be so amazing to see what happens - if anything - from this new series of matings! I'm keeping them in my prayers, no matter how silly that sounds to anyone. __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!

06-01-2005, 08:08 AM	#11
lakegirl Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gilford-Northern MA Posts: 38 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Bird Books Does anyone have any suggestions on a good bird book(s)? I checked amazon.com.... there are so many my head was spinning trying to pick out one that would be informative and best suited to this geographical area??? __________________ Lakegirl Never leave home without your camera

06-01-2005, 10:58 AM	#12
Zee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Union Wharf, Tuftonboro Posts: 173 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	The best bird guide I have been an avid birder for many years and have at least six various bird guides. My favorite and the one I keep my life list in is the Golden Guide by St. Marten's Press. I have about six copies of the older light blue covered book, one in each car, the boat, the knapsack, the kitchen table, etc. There is a new and revised edition that is equally as good. The reason I like this book is that the field identification, range, sonogram, sex variations and description are all on the same page. You don't have to flip from the color plate to a different part of the book for the description and range. The birds are also seperated by taxonomy rather than similar colors as are some books. I feel this is the best all around book.

06-01-2005, 09:14 PM	#13
frank m. Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 81 Thanks: 4 Thanked 27 Times in 7 Posts	Another Raptor We had an adult bald eagle around for a while on Saturday.

09-15-2009, 02:27 AM	#14
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,932 Thanks: 2,202 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Cooper's Hawk + Peregrine Falcon Saturday, we saw a Peregrine Falcon begin an impressive dive from only about 150' above the lake. We never saw the finish of the dive (a falcon's "stoop"), but a group of crows got noisily excited afterwards! (Crows are on a falcon's menu). A large Cooper's Hawk paid a brief visit yesterday. (Too brief for a photo—this is a "file photo"). Both of these sightings occurred just days after our bird feeder got put out for the first time this season. Which birds are we feeding? (Falcons and Cooper's seek mostly bird prey). It's possible that the Peregrine was a falconer's pet, as we have a open 100-acre field nearby. Last edited by ApS; 09-16-2009 at 07:28 PM. Reason: Add "bird prey".

09-15-2009, 04:57 PM	#15
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Can't remember if I posted it or not but I had a Falcon fly through my yard a week or so past. Caught a squirrel. Started to pick it apart on my boat.... I scared it away trying to get a shot with my camera. but boy did it fly right past me at high speed. maybe 10-15 feet away. Scared me as i didn't know what had just whizzed by. But I am certainly quite happy to see the hunters coming back. I have seen more eagles, Falcons, hawks, Owls this year than the last few. I hope they make a comeback. Oh and I Just remembered. I saw a Falcon sitting on top of a telephone pole last week on Rt 109 near the Moultonborough/Tuftonboro line. There is that electric pole service alley that they like to fly down looking for food. I really should be paying attention to the road instead eh?

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