As a rookie birder, a couple of spring ago, I was heading to the old iron mine ponds for a hike with my GSD. On the way, I had noticed a "Minimum Maintenance" road I had not driven down for years. It was very narrow, dark, and heavily wooded. A hawk flushed out in front of me and landed several hundred yards down the road on an overhanging branch. I edged ahead. The bird never moved. I stopped and put the binocs on him.At this point, I must interject a note that in my new birding hobby I was I only confident in identifying the ubiquitous red-tail and the northern Harrier. Harriers because of their penchant for twisting and turning low above the prairie.
I knew right away it wasn't a red-tail. It seemed considerably smaller, I thought. Then I noticed the white tail band. I moved the truck closer yet. Time for the Peterson field guide. There it was. A Broad-Winged Hawk.
"Forest hunter. Rather tame. White band on tail" my field guide claimed .
Millions of birders could, no doubt, have made this identification on sight alone. But for me it was a first. You gotta love it. I then knew three hawks. It was a start. Since then I’ve added a few more hawks and even a falcon or two....
Cool! I have had three different kinds of hawks dining on my well-fed songbirds on my front porch. Sometimes they even land on the railing and I get a chance to look closely at them. Magnificent birds! Oh, and good shot!
ReplyDeleteHawks can be hard to ID with their change of plumage colors.I love to try and get a shot of them , but it is hard.Look for MN bird guide, they are nice to have a state specific one. I like Borders since they have a section with state specific books, all which I want.
ReplyDeleteI have a field guide that is specifically Hawks in Flight - which is very helpful since the darn things never stop and perch when you want them to!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great photo! Good for you on the I.D. !! I have a little trouble correctly identifying Hawks.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! We recently visited Tallulah Gorge in north GA and saw many hawks.
ReplyDeleteIt is exciting to see a bird you've never seen before -- but being able to identify it is equally as cool. Good job!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a thrill to see a new bird for the first time, especially a bird as wonderful as a hawk or falcon.
ReplyDeleteSo neat! I love it when I make out what type of bird I see! Not very good at it but the thrill of identifying it. Have you seen the documentary "Life of a Bird?" It's BBC and really great! No, I didn't know about the St. Nicholas chapel at Westminster - this might be a good one to look up though and post about this week since...well, you know, the "Royal Wedding." The Cathedral is in the news! Thanks so much for the tip! I will link it back to you and your very interesting way of "finding" the St. Nicholas Chapel.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Ann
PS If you have anything else on it... please let me know... I like the angle of it coming from a novel. (sounds like a great book!)
Cool, I have been noticing hawks hunting..but can never see them good enough to identify them..you did good..getting a photo and all!:)
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