Tag Archives: Raptors

Raptor

Turkey Vultures On The Ground

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It was very windy, the kind of wind that makes your eyes water, as I walked around the recently burned rice field pond on Monday. At the first corner a number of Turkey Vultures were hunkered down.

Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vulture On Unburned Clump of Dried Cattails

At first I thought they might have found something dead to snack on, but as I got closer I could see they were resting.

Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vultures

Some of the reeds on the edge of the pond did burn, although not all the way to the ground.

Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vultures

A wider view, with the Vultures blending in to the brown vegetation. Oddly, I got no odiferous hint that there had recently been a fire here.

Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vultures

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 9, 2023

Raptor

Birding At Home: Swallow-tailed Kite

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I answered the door a few days ago to find our excited neighbor and his two pre-teen boys: “Can you tell us what kind of bird that is?”

Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite

Why, yes, I can!

Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite

Pretty neat to see a Swallow-tailed Kite swooping over our neighborhood.

Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite

They had been watching the bird off and on all day as it was feeding on dragonflies.

Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Raptor

Fancy Nest Topper, Another Angle

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It was the shape of the tree that caught my eye, from a few posts ago. Turns out, working through my images from that day I had some other shots.

Osprey Nest in Artsy Tree
Osprey Nest– looking like a straw hat, Osprey head just visible

Here’s a wider view.

Orlando Wetlands
Orlando Wetlands

There were several Osprey flying around.

Osprey Fly Over
Osprey Fly Over

This one was watching the water but I never saw him dive.

Osprey Fly Over
Osprey Fly Over

Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022

Artsy

Fancy Nest Topper

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It was the shape of the tree that caught my eye, reminding me of a carved finial. The Osprey nest that looks like a straw hat was secondary. It was early and not much light, but there is an Osprey in the nest, the white on its head visible close to the tree trunk.

Osprey Nest In Twisted Tree
Osprey Nest In Twisted Tree

Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022

Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk With Chicks

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A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks made their nest in a tree that hangs over the exit road at Magnolia Plantation.

Red-shouldered Hawk in Nest With Chicks
Red-shouldered Hawk in Nest With Chicks

With hundreds of treed acres available to them this seems like an odd choice with cars and pedestrians passing all day long.

Red-shouldered Hawk Nest
Red-shouldered Hawk Nest

That’s a frog leg sticking up by the hawk’s feet, soon to be breakfast for the chicks.

Red-shouldered Hawk with Frog
Red-shouldered Hawk with Frog, Sitting In Next Tree Over From Nest

The chicks were ready for their next meal.

Red-shouldered Hawk in Nest With Chicks
Red-shouldered Hawk Chicks

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 29, 2022