Birding and Bird Photography

We all start somewhere. @Gyrkin is an expert falconer and I'm a wildlife biologist that does this for a living, so give yourself a break.

Here are some good books for identification. Way better than standard ID books that provide 1 drawing per species.

Here are good ones for ecology

 

Proportion, powerful versus cute. That was what I was looking for. Thanks

 

Thanks! Just ordered Hawks at a Distance and Hawks in Flight. I think I have the Crossley Raptor ID Guide around here somewhere...need to find it too.

 

So uhm, this is my third sighting of this bird in my neighborhood and I am having a hard time figuring out exactly what it is. I've been trying to look it up and I can't seem to figure it out. I was leaning more towards a type of falcon but now I'm thinking that's incorrect. Sorry for the rough photo, kinda looking far up at this guy zoomed in as much as I could, didn't want to spook him. Any help identifying would be greatly appreciated, sighted in Florida (Tampa area) today, he's roughly 8-10 inches tall from his feet to head.

 

Looks like an American Kestrel to me. Is it about the size of a pigeon?

Sorry saw you put the size, I would say American Kestrel

 

Definitely a male American Kestrel

 

As others have already said it's a kestrel. To be more specific a male. It has an unusually lightly marked breast, that may have been throwing you off. He's a handsome little dude.

 

Thanks everyone! Not sure why but in the back of my head I didn't even consider the possibility of it being Kestrel, always assumed they were much smaller. Thanks for educating me everyone, always happy to learn more about these beautiful creatures.

Hopefully this lil guy will stick to this area and give me more chances at better shots. Fingers crossed.

 

Been a long time since I heard a hoot of an owl... sitting somewhere in the neighbors pine trees... sounds a bit rough like it maybe not feeling the greatest... raspy type of a hoot... to dark to spot it

 

Probably a great horned owl courting. They nest real early. Around here I frequently hear them courting late December, and all through January. I don't know for sure when they usually lay eggs. I think it's in February, but I do know it's waaaay earlier than other raptors.

 

Getting my ducks in a row.
Fulvous Whistling Ducks photographed at the 75 Acre Lake in Choke Canyon Texas State Park

 

It's part of their ecology because owls' don't build nests but instead use existing structures. Great-horned owls will reuse large stick nests built by Corvids or other raptors, and also use ledges, nooks in trees, or large open cavities (not small enclosed ones). All other owls that I am familiar with, besides burrowing owls that use mammal burrows, will use enclosed cavities in trees. Because owls do not create these structures, they will start nesting earlier to compete with other bird species that would use these structures to nest as well. They find an existing suitable location, and their nest building consists of a belly scrape to make the depression in the materials, which is like the cup in other nests. Just like falcon's nest building consists of a suitable location and a belly scrape, but my guess is ledges, cliffs, aeries, that are used by falcons are more abundant.

I've noticed this theme with some songbirds as well that are cavity nesters (i.e., they don't create the cavity, either natural or built by woodpeckers). The resident cavity nesters seem to nest earlier in the season to compete with the summer residents, so they can establish nests in the best cavities before the migrants return from their winter grounds to compete with them for these nesting locations.

I think the competition aspect drives this behavior in owls and some other birds that rely on natural structures or structures built by other species that are limited or not abundant. Versus other birds that can build a nest from scratch wherever they choose.

 

One of my Christmas gifts arrived yesterday, and I have another arriving Sunday.

 

Second try:

 

I've had my copy for at least 30yrs, it's a great guide

 

Merry Christmas !

 

My second raptor book was delivered today:



Actually 3rd, since I have the Crosley book around here somewhere. I should be good in the near term...lol

 

Great Egret coming in for a landing, shot at Brushy Creek Park in NW Austin, just down from my house.

 

In case you're looking for the ID, that's a first-year/juvenile Double-crested Cormorant. When it molts into adult plumage next spring, all that light tan in its breast, neck, and head, will be replaced with black.

Edit: im an idiot