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Discussion of other Raptor species; their anatomy, biology, ecology, etc.
Topic Started: Sep 16 2007, 11:04 AM (18,128 Views)
ostrich2
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I was able to get in some raptor watching again at High Park today - it wasn't as good a day today raptor-wise as last week was, but there were a few species sighted.

I brought my camera this week, but unfortunately there wasn't really anything to take shots of - aside from there being not as many birds passing through, they were soaring HIGH today. You could spot them, but they were so high that even in binoculars you could only make out a distant shape. I'll see if there is any better luck next week. I also noticed today that in addition to them being very high, they were mainly following a path that stayed well out over the tree line, not so much over the park itself. I'm not sure why they were soaring so high today - perhaps it was just the winds patterns today - it's interesting what might affect this.

One of the regular observers said that the hawks (I'm not sure if other species behave this way as well or not) won't cross Lake Ontario because they don't like to fly out over the water. He mentioned this was due to lack of thermals, I'm not sure if that's the reason. Because of this the birds coming south apparently turn west when they get to the shoreline and follow Lake Ontario until they can cross at Niagara or Windsor. You can see this at Hawk Hill - you generally spot them looking east. Sometimes they are just ringing up but usually they eventually work their way south and then around to the west and out of sight. The park is probably 2-3km from the actual shoreline, so I think it may just depend on the path they're taking on a particular day how closely they pass over the park.

Aside from one large kettle of about 20 RTs, it was individual birds today - no red-shouldered hawks, but there were a handful of Cooper's. There was one Northern Harrier, and a Sharp-shinned hawk. There were also a couple of falcons that I'm not sure were positively identified. However the best guess was a merlin, as they were not really large enough to be peregrines, and they were very dark in plumage, so they didn't seem to be kestrels either.
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ostrich2
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Folks are reporting that the falconet on the Brisbane peregrine nest appears to have fledged. I don't know if there is any other report yet on the status of the bird.
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ostrich2
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It looks like we have another id to work on :D

This bird was captured today on the West End nest:

This image was posted by Paula Eaglet Momster

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Cumbrian also posted a couple of captures of the bird:

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A couple of folks had mentioned kestrel, but this bird looks too big to be a kestrel to me. Certainly peregrine seems much more likely. It does look generally like a falcon.
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Raptorman
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ostrich2
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Raptorman,Nov 4 2007
08:25 PM
The new bird id is quite straightforward. So again I will stay out of it until a few days have passed. Perhaps what folks could do is give supportive reasons for their "guess".

Ostrich: I mentioned before about raptors normally not wanting to cross big bodies of water. Thus narrowing of the waters at the lake heads like Pt. Pelee. Land formation, weather and time of day affect the trapping opportunities. Recent feeding success also affects the raptors need to be on the hunt rather than soaring.

I seriously doubt the Brisbane Peregrine has fledged. Unless I am incorrect about the hatch date the bird is only about 5 weeks old. Too soon as the flight feathers are still not developed enough not to mention muscle development. Bill :D

As far as the bird on the West End goes, I felt it was a falcon immediately because of the body shape and the look of the wings and tail. The American kestrel and the peregrine are the two falcon species that Dr. Sharpe has specifically mentioned them seeing on the islands, so we know those species are present (this doesn't eliminate other species of course).

The webcam images aren't that high resolution but the plumage especially around the head certainly didn't look like the colorful pattern of the kestrel (the pictures you posted earlier in the thread for example). This bird also looks noticeably larger than kestrel size.

At least as well as can be seen from the images, the bird certainly seems to have the dark plumage around the head and underneath the beak that is characteristic of the peregrine. Looking at the field guide, the other larger falcons (like the prairie falcon and gyrfalcon) don't seem to be as dark around the head as the peregrine.

In terms of the flying patterns, is it typical for the hawks to spend time circling and ringing up when they're in the midst of migration, or do they take periods where they move around an area? I've wondered if any of the ones we're seeing are interested in hunting in the park (although I've never seen any get low enough). Others seem to just move right on through.

I just checked, and as far as I could find, the Brisbane peregrine hatched on September 25, which would make it 42 days or 6 weeks. I know folks have reported the bird doing some wing flapping exercises and standing on the edge of the ledge the past couple of days, so it seems clear it's been at least preparing to fledge. I'm not sure how much time they typically need. Today the camera view was panned out to show the whole ledge and the bird could not be seen, although there may still be a bit that's off camera.

Edit: apparently they are also reporting on the Brisbane web page that the chick has fledged with video (not sure if streaming or just from the camera stills) to be posted.
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Raptorman
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Naturegal
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Raptorman - there is a video of Dolly the falcon fledging.........but you are the expert, we will see soon........

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/extras/...cam/default.htm

I took these photos from the video.......


Posted Image Posted Image
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ostrich2
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Raptorman,Nov 5 2007
10:52 AM
I could be wrong here, considering the falconet has not been seen on the ledge. I had thought the bird hatched Sept. 28th. (3 days does make a difference) although there has been confusion about which chick survived and, for that matter, how many chicks hatched. Also when I look at the "video" (it is a series of stills) the bird standing on the ledge seems to have white plumage on the front of the body (although it could have some reflection from the pink ledge). A immature Peregrine is orange/brown plumage on the chest. (Again the photos are not clear on my monitor). Unfortunately, if the bird is seen on the ledge in the next day or so that would not conclude the bird didn't fledge. Just my thoughts. I don't watch the "cam" but I am also often skeptical of observations by emotionally charged, untrained viewers. Bill  :D

You are correct that there was confusion about how many eggs successfully hatched, and there was definitely one that didn't, so it's true it's hard to be certain what the actual hatching date was for this bird. I'd seen as early as Sept 25, but it depends on which egg it was.

You are correct about the plumage of the immature peregrine - here's a good shot of the bird when it was on the ledge.

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It could be the bird did fledge but someone got the video wrong and caught one of the adults flying off the ledge. The plumage on the bird in the "fledging" video does seem to be different. I think the lighting and the ledge itself can play some real tricks with the color of the images though.
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Raptorman
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Raptorman
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Raptorman
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more space for bird id
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Raptorman
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more space for bird id
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Raptorman
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more space for bird id
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Naturegal
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ostrich2,Nov 5 2007
11:31 AM
Raptorman,Nov 5 2007
10:52 AM
I could be wrong here, considering the falconet has not been seen on the ledge. I had thought the bird hatched Sept. 28th. (3 days does make a difference) although there has been confusion about which chick survived and, for that matter, how many chicks hatched. Also when I look at the "video" (it is a series of stills) the bird standing on the ledge seems to have white plumage on the front of the body (although it could have some reflection from the pink ledge). A immature Peregrine is orange/brown plumage on the chest. (Again the photos are not clear on my monitor). Unfortunately, if the bird is seen on the ledge in the next day or so that would not conclude the bird didn't fledge. Just my thoughts. I don't watch the "cam" but I am also often skeptical of observations by emotionally charged, untrained viewers. Bill  :D

You are correct that there was confusion about how many eggs successfully hatched, and there was definitely one that didn't, so it's true it's hard to be certain what the actual hatching date was for this bird. I'd seen as early as Sept 25, but it depends on which egg it was.

You are correct about the plumage of the immature peregrine - here's a good shot of the bird when it was on the ledge.

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Posted Image

It could be the bird did fledge but someone got the video wrong and caught one of the adults flying off the ledge. The plumage on the bird in the "fledging" video does seem to be different. I think the lighting and the ledge itself can play some real tricks with the color of the images though.

Raptorman - As it is night time in Brisbane now, it is difficult to see if there is a falcon on the floor of their nesting territory sleeping. Many a night the young falcon sat on the ledge and looked out over the city but not tonight. I really appreciate all your information, I have learned so much from you, thanks so much :)^
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Patti
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Carole, I haven't really followed the Frodo cam other than glancing at the posted stills in Chat. I didn't know if there is debate over the fledge or not? Curious what will show up in the nest site tomorrow a.m., but don't know if they return to the nest or not, either. Beautiful little bird, though.

I'm guessing a Peregrine Falcon at WE because I believe Dr. Sharpe said we have these on the islands/last year's SC nest visitor? Also, although it's difficult for me to actually make out markings, the overall slim body shape and dark head--and what appears to be long pointed-type wings suggest the Peregrine Falcon. It just overall looks dark to me, like my Sibley's Pacific Peregrine illustration--and also resembles Ostrich's still of Bill's classroom Peregrine.

To me, falcons appear to have relatively small, sleek heads--and the WE bird appears the same in proportion to the Peregrine. If the WE bird ISN'T a raptor, I have no idea what it is. Peregrine is my guess. I know Pat/Cumbrian guessed a Peregrine in NW yesterday.

Our WE guest just looks too large for a Kestrel--and the Ketrel head seems too lightly colored--plus the Ketrel body seems too orange/rufous to me.

Bill,
thank you for all your information! :)

Ostrich--I'd be thrilled with what you saw at High Park...and lucky to see that here. I've watched Red-t's trying to work up to catching the thermals..up close here. It looks like quite a struggle until they get the lift. Really, does not look easy and they appear to exert a lot of energy flapping. Sometimes I feel sorry for them, on the hot dry days with east winds...does not look like fun getting to the thermal from above tree top levels.
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