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Discussion of other Raptor species; their anatomy, biology, ecology, etc.
Topic Started: Sep 16 2007, 11:04 AM (18,096 Views)
Bea
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Patti, I checked my National Geographic Book about the White-Tailed Kite, and it says:

"Resident in coastal CA to the Sierra Nevada, grasslands of Southeastern Arizona and into Texas."

"Often seen hovering above a field or marsh in the pacific states and Texas....."

Sounds to me that it somewhat likes to be near water? Come to think of it, we see them along the coast in Carpenteria also.


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Raptorman
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Patti
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Bea, maybe you'll see this OSPREY. My neighbor has a pix of a common poorwill he took up higher on E. Highland in his yard--some months back.

<::: An OSPREY & Common Poorwills hanging out in Camarillo

Ventura County Birding -- Mon Jul 21, 2008

Hello all,

An adult REDDISH EGRET flew over me this afternoon and headed West-ish
straight into public airspace over Ormond Beach. I assume this is the same bird
seen yesterday and last week. Keep a lookout up the coast.
Also, an alternate BLACK TURNSTONE showed up on the beach today. Yesterday
I neglected to mention four PIGEON GUILLEMOTS visible off the beach. No Stilt
Sandpipers today.

Local interest for Camarillo birders: an OSPREY has been hanging around the
Camarillo wastewater treatment plant, and COMMON POORWILLS have been calling
from the lower slopes of Conejo mountain.

Good Birding,

Adam Searcy
Camarillo
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Bea
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Patti, thanks for the wing-up!! Do you know where that wastewater treatment plant is?

I'll definately keep my eyes to the sky!!

BTW, We have seen a Heron or Egret fly over our house about 3 times in the last month or so. Haven't been able to snap a picture yet to positively ID it, but I'll keep trying.
What would a Heron or Egret do way up our ways??


Edit: I googled it (Treatment Plant), and it seems to be out by the Camarillo Springs Golf Course towards the Grade. Makes sense, there is water at the Golf Course too!
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Patti
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In case it's overlooked by those who miss Chat--I'll crosspost here:

Here's the article dated July 17th, 2008. Not clear if the brown pelican was found July 14th, but still a good read on what's probably an IWS Bald eagle. I would assume it was July 14th.

Posted Image

National symbol returns to Ventura County, Point Mugu

It was early Monday morning when NBVC Point Mugu biologists wandered onto a fresh kill site. A California brown pelican had just been killed and fed on by a predator rarely seen over the last few decades. The large tracks and talons on the mudflats suggest only one avian predator that is large enough to take down a brown pelican-----a bald eagle.

Due to restoration efforts by the National Park Service on the Channel Islands, the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program, and the Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS), bald eagle sightings are now becoming more regular in Ventura County and especially at Point Mugu. This year alone, bald eagles have been spotted in March, April, June, and July. In April an adult spent a week at Mugu, departing in the evenings to roost in the Santa Monica Mountains. Santa Cruz eagles can be differentiated from other mainlind eagles by their blue wing tags, which have numbers identifying individual eagles. Some eagles also have satellite telemetry transmittters placed on them so researchers can track their movements.

Since June 2002, IWS has released 63 young bald eagles on Santa Cruz Island. Populations of bald eagles have been recovering nationwide since banning the use of DDT. Bald eagles were just recently taken off the endangered species list, with the exception of a portion of the population that may retain its status. Keep your eyes in the skies for this majestic bird. They may also be seen perching on fallen trees and logs in the marsh from the mouth of the estuary. If you are lucky enough to see one, please call the Environmental Division at 805 989-3808.
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Patti
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Crossposting from Chat:


:<<>>: Pt Mugu Sighting of IWS Blue-tagged Bald eagle A-37

Ventura County Birding -- Yahoo Group
(posted on) Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:01 pm

Hello all,

Today was a good day at Mugu. I relocated the (a?) STILT SANDPIPER this
morning and photographed it (poor photo, see shorebirds folder shortly.) Later
that afternoon, I passed this location again and quickly relocated the (a) STSA
right by the fence, then scanned a flock of Dowitcher's and peeps that had since
arrived. In the back of the same pond was a second STILT SANDPIPER. Both were
adults in alternate.
Late this morning the second year BALD EAGLE that has been around landed in
the Least Tern colony, causing a bit of distress. This is a banded bird (#37)
from Santa Cruz island.
This afternoon, at the main causeway, the adult REDDISH EGRET found recently
by Dave Pereksta was showing nicely, roosting on the mudflats/pickleweed
(horrible photo taken). Also present was an alternate RUDDY TURNSTONE. Towards
the estuary mouth I located an adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER foraging with other
peeps, of which there were several thousand, and after which I went home to
sleep (after writing this post). The five Red-breasted Merganser's continued in
the estuary (present since ~20.June).

Good Birding,

Adam Searcy
Camarillo

__________________________________________________________________

Wonder if this is the IWS eagle that could have killed the Brown pelican about July 14th at Pt Mugu--per that article I posted last Friday or so?
________________________________________________________

:<<>>: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/venturacobirding/message/2835

Ventura County Birding -- Yahoo Group
(posted on) Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:25 pm

Missed the Reddish Egret but found the Bald Eagle reported by Adam Searcy on
July 20. Too
far away to see the leg band but the blue wing marker was clearly visible from
the turnout on
PCH. Of course if the blue wing marker does not identify the correct bird
someone please let
me know. Earlier this morning I walked along Conejo Creek from the waste water
treatment
plant. The Osprey continues, a few Cactus Wren, a single Canyon Wren, Green
Heron and a
pair of Lazuli Buntings.

Good birding,
Eric Waian
Ventura

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ostrich2
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Great news Patti - it certainly seems very likely that A-37 is the same bird as in the earlier report, unless another SC bird has moved into the area as well. Has IWS been informed of this sighting?

Anyone have the bio/history on A-37 handy?
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Patti
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Ostrich, I think I'll send this link to Dr. Sharpe--to go to page 47. Don't know if the Naval base reports to him on their sightings? Kind of doubt it--or that he scans this thread.
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Patti
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This is from Wing-Bling Reference Chart/Santa Cruz Island Banded Eagles from AEATT:

# A-37 (F)

From: SF Zoo -- 2005
Released from: South Hacktower
Where now? - Spotted at Pt. Mugu on Sunday July 20, 2008


Will try to do a search later...she's been around..this season on SCI? Hope I'm not connecting her to being around the Grassland nest--probably not.

Edit: I found this, Ian in Here A Chick! There A Chick in AEATT:

WHO ARE YOU? - A-37? OR A-57?

May 30, 2008


This thread was closed ... because K-10 and K-26 were not visiting the nest ... however another visitor did arrive.

Is this the intruder who attacked our babies? Or just an innocent sub-adult that decided to pay a visit to the nest?


Posted Image Posted Image

Posted Image Posted Image


pamwillie,May 30 2008
05:32 PM
I wonder if you have some clarification on the intruder at the PH nest today around 3:50 - whether the WB is 57 or 37?  Could this possibly be the eagle that attacked the nest?



Eagle Guy,May 30 2008
06:46 PM
It looked more like a "37" to me, but hard to say. Neither A-37 or A-57 have transmitters. A-37 has not been seen since 2006, so it would be exciting if it was her. It could be the same bird, but the second number did look rounded on the bird that attacked the nest. Subadults are free to move around without much aggression from adults. Because they can be on all four northern Channel Islands in a single day there is no telling where you might find one of the untagged birds.


[/color]
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jeannec
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I'm not sure if it matters, or if it's my place, but the bling of the PH visitor is most definitely a 57.

Posted Image

At the mid-left you can see the hard corner where the circular bottom segment joins the begining of a linear top segment - making it a "5". Also, if this were a 3, some portion of the top segment would have to be visible, even if it were an unconventional flat-top 3. And judging by the width of the bottom segment, that would mean the top would also have to overlap onto the 7.
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Patti
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I thought it was a 5 as well, but also remembered at the time that Jessica paints a very distinctive 3 --- and she may have painted the wing bling. To me, it does look like a 5, but....?
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iggle
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I just discovered this thread and will go back to study when I have time. I work at Pt. Mugu and often get to see Redtails as well as the occasional Peregrine, Golden Eagle or Osprey when I am on my daily walks among the lagoons. Unfortunately, I cannot photograph on this area of the base.

I look forward to learning more about the raptors in this area. I'm still waiting to catch a glimpse of one of our Bald Eagles, but no luck yet!
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Patti
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Today I got outside in time to see a male & female Red-tail flying close together and really making a racket. At first I thought the much smaller light colored hawk wasn't a RT, until I looked at the obvious (duh) red tail. Female is a big dark RT.

They were vocalizing above my house for a minute or more, but by the time I got my camera out of its case, they had soared up the hill. There was loud machinery in operation across the street while I took the video, but you can still hear the RT's in the distance.

My question to Linda/Ojailala, Cathy/Topa Topa, or anybody else who has RT's around them: Why were they making this kind of racket in August? My husband noticed it too--not the typical RT vocalization up here. When there is a chase between a RT and another type of hawk, that is loud & awesome, but not a RT couple in the summer--alone.

I was almost waiting for them to do an aerial courtship dance, but would only think this occurs in the spring? These RT's swooped down to the canyon where our friend lives and he thinks a RT pair often hang out on his property. I'll ask him if one is very light and the other very dark--the big one. The male is so small in comparison to her.

Posted Image
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jeannec
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Patti is one RT possibly a juvenile? I know young RTs can vocalize alot - to the point where it sounds like typical alarm calls when a turkey vulture or some other big bird is around. As my one friend put it - they are like kids discovering the sound of their own voice! Perhaps it was a juvie begging the parent?
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Patti
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Jeanne, I would have considered that, but they both had red tails and I thought the red tail came after the first molt.

It was late when I posted & forgot to mention Bea, who may hear these guys at her house also. Maybe later she'll check in on this one. Yes, juvies do make a lot of noise...and so do Red-shouldered young. Blah blah blah! :lol:

Most of the time, at least around my home, adults fly/soar fairly quietly. Two RT's will call a bit and attract my attention, but not like yesterday. Wish that equipment hadn't been so loud. Made it harder to hear when they soared up the hill.
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