Falcons: Part V

Lastly, the Prairie Falcon:

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: other birds

Around Lake Aguirre we found a few other birds, although I was so "focused" on finding and photographing the Spoonbills, I sort of neglected the other birds we saw. I did get a few photos, some better than others, but here are the better ones:

Belted Kingfishers always look a bit odd to me, like a cartoon character with their head and massive bill as big as the rest of their body (well, not quite):

Belted Kingfisher

Then there were some Ibises with some debate as to whether they were "just" White Faced Ibises or the much rarer Glossy Ibis. The White Faced has a red eye and upon examination it does seem like one or more has a reddish eye. Yet some of the eyes appear to be black. Is it possible? Well, I think if the Roseate Spoonbills were sent off course by the hurricanes, why not the Glossy Ibis too? Where their territories overlap they are known to mingle.

White Faced and Glossy Ibis

 A bit of a surprise to see a Prairie Falcon by water, but I guess they need an occasional drink too:

Prairie Falcon

Nearby was a family of Harrier Hawks -- I think the parents were teaching the young ones how to hunt:

Harrier Hawk

 Several Warblers including McGillivray's, Wilson's, Lucy's, and Orange Crowned. Here's the Orange Crowned:

Orange Crowned Warbler

Finally just as we were leaving the Refuge one of many Western Kingbirds caught my eye and wanted a photo taken:

Western Kingbird

Birds on a Wire: Prairie Falcon

Another beautiful raptor is the Prairie Falcon.

Like the Peregrine Falcon the Prairie Falcon was also decimated by pesticides during the mid 1900's. Unlike the faster Peregrine Falcon, the Prairie Falcon pursues smaller prey by flying close to the ground. It likes small birds and mammals.  It's habitat preference is plains and flat scrub desert.

Prairie Falcon

Prairie Falcon

Birding Santa Cruz Flats in Arizona

First a note to welcome the 125th country that has visited this blog: Antigua & Barbuda. Thank you for your in interest our Wildlife. It clearly is something people around the world have in common.

Santa Cruz Flats is one of the great winter birding spots. There are riparian areas along the Santa Cruz River, scrub desert, and farmlands. All provide a wide variety of birding experiences. Here are a sample of birds photographed on December 9, 2015:

American Kestrel

American Pipit

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Burrowing Owl

Common Ground Dove

Oops, a Coyote

Crested Caracara

Ferruginous Hawk

Snowy Plover

Prairie Falcon

Roadrunner

Rock Wren

Santa Cruz Flats: Three Falcon Day

This is the time of year that birding Santa Cruz Flats can be fun. Among many other birds (which I'll post tomorrow) three falcons presented themselves nicely:

American Kestrel

Crested Caracara

Prairie Falcon

I'll throw in a nice Ferruginous Hawk as well:

Ferruginous Hawk

Birding Santa Cruz Flats in Arizona: RaptorsAmerican

 I wanted to check out the action at Santa Cruz Flats, about 40 miles north of Tucson. It is a fabulous winter birding spot; lots of raptors, a reliable place for burrowing owls, and oddly enough shorebirds. Although not quite season yet I did find some nice photo ops:

American Kestrel

Crested Caracara

Prairie Falcon

Red Tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Santa Cruz Flats - The Alternate Universe

It's winter, so yesterday I was off to Santa Cruz Flats -- as Christine says, the alternate universe. Santa Cruz Flats is an area between Tucson and Phoenix, west of Picacho Peak. It is definitely as the name suggests, flat. Much of it is barren, not even cactus grows there. But much of it is cultivated, mostly cotton and turf farms. As such it is well irrigated and seeded which brings a multitude of birds, including waterbirds and raptors.

Lots of Red Tailed Hawks -- of all color varieties; many American Kestrel's; s a couple Prairie Falcons; a couple Harrier Hawks, and a Ferruginous Hawk. I did not see any Crested Caracaras or Black Vultures which I have seen on previous trips.

I did find a large flock of Mountain Plovers although too far or "flighty" to get good photos. Lots of Ravens too.

Here are a few photos from yesterdays trip:

Yellow Headed Blackbird

American Kestrel

Canvasback

Prairie Falcon

Ferruginous Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk

Horned Lark