Norcal Spotted and BS Thread

A customer of mine texted me this today:

“ Today is Blursday the Fourtentieth of the month Femarcil.”

Totally matches my wife’s calendar.

 

Definitely a first year male Cooper's hawk. You can tell by the flat/boxed like head, how far down the flight feathers/wings extend onto the tail (called primary projection in bird geek language), lack of white eyebrow/supercillium (first-year birds only) and the outer tail feathers are shorter giving a more rounded look to the tail when perched.

Versus a sharp-shinned hawk which has a rounded head, different primary projection, has a white eyebrow/supercillium in juvenal plumage, and outer tail feathers are the same length giving more of a boxed/right-angled look to the tail when perched.

There are other things to help differentiate these species, but if you can use these you dont have to go further. Plus, sharp-shinned hawks dont breed in our area, unless you're in the mountains, and are only over-winter residents. So if this is a recent picture and is not in the mountains that helps with the ID.

I like this game incase any of you got wildlife identification requests in the future.

 

Speaking of bald eagles, got about 20' from this one earlier this week when doing a survey for an "essential infrastructure project". I was relatively close to the pair nesting at Curtner Elementary school in Milpitas, so I'm guessing it was one of them. Pretty interesting nest that established 2 years ago or so. Most nests I know of are in remote locations immediately adjacent to good foraging habits like lakes/reservoirs. This pair flies a couple miles each way to forage in the baylands and nestled in an urban-suburban area.

I know of 4 nests in Santa Clara county, so they are not that "common". Probably 30-40 nesting pairs in the bay area counties. In winter though we have more in our area.

 

Where's our resident bird guy, @92shawman, when you need him

That's a great ID @Taco-Obsessed! Kudos.

 

Gee maybe I should take more pics of all the ones up here. I see bald eagles constantly.
I'll do better.

 

Few years ago I saw a bald eagle came off Bullard bar res. It flew up to the lookout I was working in which is about 4 miles from the lake. It circled the tower 3times. Then it set it wings and I watched it fly over 18 miles with out a flap of a wing. I kept binoculars on it the whole time. I was pretty impressed

 

A BAEA was spotted and video taped chasing an osprey right above the fishing pier at McNears Beach Park in San Rafael today. Trying to figure out how to post the video.


Marin County Parks (@marinparks) Tweeted:
Nature keeps doing her thing. Bald eagles at McNears Beach. #Inspiration #StayHomeSaveLives https://t.co/fKtaV2aRr1

https://twitter.com/marinparks/status/1245858915104874496?s=20

 

Sounds amazing. Minus the kid, video games, and house shopping....lol...video games have been proven to lower the risk of heart attacks in men .

 

Crescent City, Ca. about 1/4 mile from the beach.

 

So has PornHub. Look it up!

 

Porn and videos games you say?... I’m going to live forever...

 

Brb

 

What am I the only asshole in the bay area not seeing bald eagles every day!?

 

I like to eat bald eagles

 

Perhaps
here is a bay area sightings map




I think you are north bay. Zoomed in for your area.

 

My daughter has/borrowed my bigger drill.

 

There was an episode of Shameless where Carl shoots a Bald Eagle the family decides to eat for thanksgiving. That was hilarious.

 

I remember that

 

Just realized today, or maybe it was Monday, was supposed to be the end of quarantine. What a bunch of teases.

hope this is truly over soon. Imma go crazy.