We visited Beidler Forest last week with out of town guests. We were all delighted to see a Barred Owl shortly after leaving the visitor center and quite close to the board walk. The owl impressed the guests with a head swiveling demo but opted not to go fishing while we were watching.
The first bird for the Birds of Prey photography day on Sunday was a Lanner Falcon. A native of Africa and southeast Europe they are often used in falconry.
It was a bit breezy and the falcon faced into the wind with his wings up after jumping onto the perch, showing off his well-feathered legs.
In the full side view after he settled you can see the beautiful grey coloration of his body feathers.
The head markings are quite distinctive.
Close up profile shot.
Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus
The Center for Birds of Prey offers photographers an opportunity to take close-up photographs of owls and other birds of prey a few times a year.
The Center for Birds of Prey, Photography Day, April 22, 2018, Awenda, SC.
This Red-shouldered Hawk was doing something in the grass with his feet. He looked around a little bit, but other than that just his legs were moving. Perhaps he thought he had a snake.
Alas, he did not.
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I had been watching this Red-shouldered Hawk as he watched a low marshy area from a nearby branch. When he spotted lunch it was just a matter of seconds from branch to capture.
I was fortunate that he landed in a sunny spot several feet below where I stood giving me a good view.
He held his prey with both feet. When I developed the images I could see that lunch was a frog.
He ate little bits at a time, tearing pieces off with his beak. He changed directions several times with little hops. I could hear several other Red-shouldered Hawks not too far off and there was a small flock of Ibis about 10 feet away.
I doubt the Ibis would challenge a Hawk for a meal, but I’m sure other raptors would. After eating part of the frog the hawk re-arranged himself and his grip.
A minute later he flew up into a nearby more protected tree, then flew down the pond to a higher vantage point.
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Surveying his options this Red-shouldered Hawk deliberately checked in every direction.
He was pretty content to sit right there, watching and listening.
I walked down the path and took a shot from a different vantage point; his head and one foot had moved. His feet seem kind of delicate for a raptor.
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01/16/2018
Still wet after his dive to catch this fish the Osprey shook off then proceeded to consume his meal at a steady pace.
He started at the head and worked meticulously down the fish. I didn’t see a single piece fall although my attention did waver as this process took about 15 minutes.
The Osprey’s attention was diverted a couple of times when a Red Shouldered Hawk was calling on the other side of the pond. The Hawk never came close and the Osprey went back to eating.
A foot bridge crosses the pond and I was able to get a different angle out on the bridge.
I didn’t see him leave and a few minutes later I heard his distinctive call out over a nearby marsh.
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I was idly watching some mallards swim across the big pond at Magnolia Cemetery when I heard the splash. By the time I had him sighted he was out of the water.
Osprey often go completely under when they dive. I’m not sure this pond is deep enough for that but he still had to work very hard to get airborne with his catch.
Finally up in the air, the Osprey hung on to the fish with both feet.
A branch hanging over the water provided a perfect lunch spot with a view.
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