Saturday, January 30, 2021

Raptors soaring above!


 When we hike Halpata Tastanaki Preserve we have a wide open view above the preserve. 


So it's easy to spot big birds!


We've been seeing this immature Eagle for a couple of months.


He's probably between 1 and 2 years old considering his coloration. 


I sure hope he stays around and we get to photograph him when his head turns white. He'll be easier to spot then!


And the Kestrels are regulars here during the winter months and we usually see 3 or 4 on our hikes in that area.


They are such beautiful birds, small and graceful.


Of course the Red-shouldered Hawk and the Red-tailed Hawks are regulars year round.


We've had perfect hiking weather this week. It was even 80 degrees on one of our hikes!


Have you had a good week? Ours has been busy!



I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

44 comments:

MadSnapper said...

i have not seen a kestrel in real life. this morning on my walk, there were two hawks screaming and hunting and flying over my head

Sandy said...

Beautiful pictures and I forgot to come back to your post and tell you happy birthday. I do hope you had a good one.

Tom said...

...ah, to be able to soar! Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

Lea said...

Beautiful birds!
Have a blessed day!

Debbie said...

you are lucky to have a busy week, making the time pass more quickly!! your flight images are really good. i have to say, i am terrible at flight images - i just can't get them!! i too hope the eagle hangs around, it will be nice for you to see it "come of age"!! the kestrels are so pretty, i have never seen one before!!

i am feeling 100% now and i am so very happy, thank you for asking!!!

ann said...

Good morning. These birds of prey are always so beautiful to watch. Here we have the little kestrels close by if we are watching, the red tail hawks, the sharp shank, and an occasional bald eagle. The Goldens are around, too. And then to get the great photos as you have is an extra bonus.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Diane,

Great shots of the Bald Eagle, Kestrel and the Hawks. Love the flight captures! They are all great sightings from your walk. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post! Take care, enjoy your weekend! PS, thank you for visiting and for the comment.

Edna B said...

Your photos are wonderful. I do miss the warmth of Florida. It's cold here in New England. Keep sharing these photos. They really make my day. Hugs, Edna B.

Martha said...

So many beautiful captures! Have a great weekend Diane :)

Arlene G said...

I love to watch the big birds fly...they are amazing to me.

Ella said...

I love these birds of prey ... although they are very cruel, but it is not their fault that they were created that way!

Marcia said...

80º - can't even imagine it right now as we woke to below 0º temperatures. The tail on that kestrel is lovely.

RedPat said...

The Kestrel is a handsome bird. Lovely colouration!

Inger said...

Such beautiful pictures of the birds. Here, the ravens tend to chase away the hawks, which is such a pity. Several years ago, I had a kestrel living around here. It was lovely to watch. You are so blessed with your nature trails. So glad you use them regularly and share them with us, your friends here.

Rostrose said...

These are wonderful pictures of birds of prey! We sometimes see kestrels or hawks circling over the fields here, but not eagles (only at bird shows on old castles, such as I posted here: https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2014/06/flugel-zum -fliegen.html)
Best wishes from Austria and happy weekend, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/01/fruhlingshaftes-winter-picknick-in.html

BeachGypsy said...

OH MY GOODNESS Diane, those are great shots of the Eagle......I would be so excited to see an eagle!!!! That one is getting big, he will look like a "true eagle " very soon. Hope your weekend is going great so far. Gracious, it's been so so COLD HERE THE PAST TWO OR THREE NIGHTS. It's awful chilly in the day too. I'm ready for spring for sure. Dont think we'll be walking today, but we could change our minds...Hugs!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Wow! That eagle sure fooled me! I would have thought he was a buzzard from a distance! Now I wonder how many eagles I may have dismissed because I thought they were just an old buzzard! I know the hawks are very busy right now...must be their mating season or something...there are so many of them and I hear their calls everywhere we go. Haven't seen any Kestrels yet this year. I think our current hawk is a red tailed hawk and not a red shouldered as I originally thought. His chest is too spotted with darker spots than a red shouldered hawk. He's pretty, whatever he is. Thank you for sharing these with us!

Terri D said...

You always get such great bird photos!! They are so majestic! Thanks for taking us along on your hikes! We are planning a trip to Bok Tower one of these weeks soon. My friend, Elaine, is in the bell choir at their church in Illinois and she wants to hear the carillon bells in the tower there. I will get some photos when we go.

Rain said...

Oh such beautiful photos!!! You are so lucky to visit there! :) This week has been trying for me. It's so dang cold out and I'm missing the sun and the warm weather! Looking forward to seeing if the groundhog will see his shadow or not!! ;)

Ann said...

Wonderful photos of all of these.

Susie said...

Diane, I wish my daughter could come hike with you. She absolutely loves birds. She goes looking for new birds all the time. Said she hiked last week on a new trail. I told her to use caution doing that. She said she spoke to a park ranger about what was safe. Loved seeing the pretty birds there. Blessings to you, xoxo,love, Susie

Teresa said...

Me ha encantado tu caminata. Besos.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Oh you lucky devil! Kestrels and Eagles!!! I would be in Heaven...:)jp

DeniseinVA said...

Oh wow, beautiful shots Diane! I would be over the moon for such sights.

Barbara said...

The splay of the birds' feathers as they are flying is amazing to see. You have such a strong gift for photography, and especially when the birds are moving!

Kathy said...

Such great shots! I can only wish for 80 degree weather. It's in the 20s here and we are supposed to get lots of snow. Lots and lots and lots!

Linda said...

How awesome to see so many of these majestic birds!

Phil Slade said...

You have a good population of raptors Diane. That suggests a healthy and balanced environment where there is plenty of food for so many food niches. I would love to go out birding near where you live. Have a sunny week ahead.

Hootin Anni said...

Wow, Diane, incredible beauty on the wing today!! Each, and all.
Thanks so much for sharing with us at IRBB this weekend. Stay safe.
~Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin'

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Eighty degrees is already too hot for me!

The Feminine Energy said...

Your pictures are absolutely beautiful!! We have a lot of Cooper's Hawks... so many that sometimes there's 6-8 overhead at one time. On sunny days they make quite a shadow as they go over. Your Florida weather sure does sound enticing... especially this morning as it's starting to get light, here in northern-most Indiana, and I'm starting to see the amount of snow we got from the storm last night. I'm guessing 8" or so. *gawd* When's the next flight to Florida??!! *haha* ~Andrea xoxo

Marit said...

Beautiful photos! The Cooper's Hawks are very pretty.
Have a nice weekend!

Linda said...

Wonderful raptor photos. I did capture a couple of photos of the kestrel as it made a quick stop in the garden.

Jean said...

Pretty shots of all the hawks. Glad you are out enjoying your nice weather down there. It's not been bad in our area but we have a bit of a wait before seeing any 80 degree days, I think. Happy new week!

21 Wits said...

Thank you for sharing such lovely captures! They are commanding in their flights and so happy with their surroundings!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Nice photos
Puttering at a medium pace is the norm this winter. Getting ready for a big snow storm this week will speed up thi gs.

Ricki Treleaven said...

It's fun seeing the kestrel....what a pretty bird!

Shiju Sugunan said...

Wonderful images of some lovely birds!

Breathtaking said...

Hello Diane!:=) Beautiful shots of those three raptors You are so lucky to see them. Love all your birds in flight captures.

Helma said...

Hi Diane,
it's also great to see birds of prey float :-)
You show a few beautiful predators here and so beautiful in flight.
I love it!

Greetings, Helma

Jenn Jilks said...

The raptors are just amazing, even if they clear the feeders!

Lowcarb team member said...

Beautiful birds here :)

All the best Jan

Red Rose Alley said...

Isn't that something that the Eagle's head turns white in time? The Kestrel is a pretty bird too. And the Hawk is always a sight to see, such a grand bird in nature. That last photo of him in flight is a good one. You can see the details of his wings. So pretty.

~Sheri

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Great photos, if you had not said they were cranes in the first photos I would have thought they were Canada Geese