Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 10:54am PT
|
That Green Heron was using bait! Amazing neck stretch to choke it down. I have seen egrets eat big fish before and same thing, giant bulging neck. I wonder if Russ would consider that "Bulgemelon?"
I couldn't tell if any of those Catfish actually got a pigeon.
|
|
dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 01:00pm PT
|
Not sure if they did either Dee, but that is crazy to see catfish even going for it, reminds me of the crocks hanging out by the shore line waiting for a kill.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 01:11pm PT
|
Those are some dumbazz catfish even if they're French.
Them pigeons ain't gonna win no Phi Beta Kappas neither.
Dee, where did you see yer Saw-whet?
|
|
Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 03:29pm PT
|
Back in the Philly area for my mom's service, saw some great birds at a NWR that my dad used to take me too when I was young. Great stuff everyone. Will post photos later.
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 08:22pm PT
|
Reilly,
It was way up Silverado Cyn. at "Bigcone Springs."
But...I only heard it. They have a super distinctive call. It's like a car seat belt alarm.
I meant to bring a light but forgot it. I went up the canyon playing various owls with not a peep until I got up there. There had been a moto and a Baja bug blasting the canyon as I went up, finally they left.
When I got clear up to BC Springs I heard nothing at first, the canyon was dead quiet. I sat for 20 minutes or so nursing a beer. It was awesome up there in the dark by myself and pitch black. I had heard from others that the Saw-whet didn't respond to it's own call but only to the Western Screech Owl.
After awhile I played a variety of calls again. Nothing. I turned to go to the car and then I heard a Great-horned Owl very nearby start up, within 50 feet. Then another down canyon a ways, then the Saw-whet started up, super cool. He was directly across the canyon. Then a third Great-horned on the ridge behind me started up.
I sat there and listened to the 4 owls till it got quiet again.
My local birding bros. from a couple of days before (inc. a couple of the OC's top birders) had done the same thing (playing), then, when they thought they had the owls located they all hit them with spotlights.
I was glad I didn't do that. I would have liked to see it but in retrospect I think the light would be a much more egregious violation of their lives. Plus, I think, an owl could ever get hurt after receiving the full blinding blast of light.
I'm going back for the Long Eared Owl soon.
|
|
Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 08:45pm PT
|
Dee...saw two long eared owls today and got some great photos of them....will post when I get back toColorado. Trying for a Snowy Owl tomorrow in the Cape May, NJ area.
|
|
little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 09:16pm PT
|
more marsh birds
This bird had a badly broken right tarsus just above its foot, looked like an old injury as the foot was basically pertified in that position. It would hop and flap to get around. Amazing. Hope it is able to survive for awhile longer.
Thought I'd try to get some photos in the forest, but it's pretty frustrating. Unless there is a clean line of sight the camera will focus on any little twig that is in the way instead of the bird. Plus the birds are often in dappled light. If they are at all active the photo gets blurred. Bitch, bitch, bitch. Whatever. Increases my respect for the real good photos we get to see here from real photographers (as in the next post - thanks CClarke for proving my point)
|
|
CClarke
climber
La Paz, Bolivia
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 09:22pm PT
|
Here's a few from between the rain storms.
White-bellied tyrannulet:
Gray-hooded parakeet:
Eared doves:
Picui ground dove:
Black siskin:
And just one more Sparkling violeteer:
|
|
Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 09:24pm PT
|
You guys are killing me with all these killer pics of exotic fare. I think I might be due for a trip back to the tropics next winter.
|
|
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 09:38pm PT
|
I just passed out at the sight of the Pale Billed Woodpecker. Came to only to see CClarke's photos!
I'm with you Willoughby - great stuff...wanna go on a birding trip!
|
|
john hansen
climber
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 10:51pm PT
|
It was a beautiful day in Hilo. Still just a bit of snow on Mauna Kea.
Sorry Crimpie... Could not resist :)
I only had my 18 /135 lens with me so could not really zoom in much, but got a Wandering tattler.
And a Pacific Plover. They were both used to people being around.
I think these are winter ruddy turnstones. I will go down again with a longer lens
And a couple more of the (presumed) turnstone flying.
|
|
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 10:56pm PT
|
Hee hee - don't be too sorry John H...Hawaii is in my very near future. Yay sunshine, yay warmth, yay birds!
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
Feb 10, 2014 - 11:45pm PT
|
Just love those big woodpeckers!!!
|
|
dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
|
|
|
Feb 11, 2014 - 01:00pm PT
|
this video shows the couple that teaches the Falconry classes we went to a couple weeks ago. Didn't know they did this too, super cool Falconry while paragliding!!
[Click to View YouTube Video]
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
Feb 11, 2014 - 02:09pm PT
|
At the American Alpine Club Annual Dinner Yvon Chouinard was the
featured speaker--he started out part of his outdoor career learning
falconry. Rapelling into the nests to exchange peregrine chicks
for eggs got him started, he said. . .
|
|
dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
|
|
|
Feb 11, 2014 - 03:01pm PT
|
Cool stuff Steve. From what I learned it is a big process to become a legit Falconer here in the US. Gotta have someone train you for at east two years I think and then find a sponsor to get a bird. Was cool to just be so close to these guys.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Feb 11, 2014 - 04:25pm PT
|
Was at Placeritas State Park today and they had some of their injured/sick
birds out.
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
Feb 11, 2014 - 10:23pm PT
|
Do you know if there are any instances when the hawks
got tangled up in the guy lines on the sails?
(not enough to be sailing, but trying to bring a bird in
too--yowsa! knott for me)!
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Feb 11, 2014 - 11:02pm PT
|
I went out to the San Jacinto Wildlife Area last Sat. with the OC Sea and Sage. Good birds, group not as cool as the San Berdoo posse. Best bird was the female Black-throated Blue Warbler, pretty easily found.
Best photo was this one. I did get 82 species though, one lifer, Sage Thrasher (actually the best bird).
Lincoln's S.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!