I was able to capture another series of the Crested Caracara mating display much closer up.

The expanded speckled white neck adds to his appeal during mating season.

He was quite striking even when holding still.

This view also shows off the Caracara’s powerful beak.

They easily feed on about any animal, either captured alive or found dead.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC.
Photography Day, October 10, 2021
Handsome raptor!
He is a real beauty, Donna. Did you ever see any in the wild in Florida? I glimpsed one or two, but never got any good images that I remember.
Yes, this past winter I got good shots of two in a tree and one in flight near Marco Island; and back in 2016 when we were near Okeechobee Lake, I was able to get some shots of them. I’ve also seen them without a camera with me, ugh. Very cool, punk-rocker looking raptors!
Just went and looked at your site, which I should have done in the first place 😝. I remember that post now with the two in the tree, and the in-flights you got in 2016 were awesome shots. There would be no mistaking them for something else!
No way you, I or anyone else can remember previous bird posts! 🤪 Thank you, Ellen, enjoy you’re evening.
I’ve been trying to put a date and location in more of my posts as the experiences run together in my memories, having given up on “oh, I’ll remember where this was!” 🙃