thanks; eagle, peregrine, others

[Andrew McKinley]

Hi everyone,

Thanks to Ian and Angelicque for describing the whereabouts of the Bald Eagle on the spit... I went out yesterday and managed to find it... I got lucky and spotted him near the end of the first cormorant nesting area....no good pictures unfortunately, he was in a tree a would not permit me to get close enough with my medium quality camera. Also spotted the usual range of ducks, an American Pipit (I thought they had gone by now), a Northern Harrier, A rough legged hawk (I am not 100% on this one), some red tails and kestrels, and an adult peregrine falcon. The Falcon was seen being harassed by a Kestrel in flight and then I tracked him to the tall tree on the south side of the red bridge where he was quite content to sit while I took pictures... unfortunately they are very dark since the sun was behind him at that point.

Anyways, thanks again guys!
-Andrew

[RobMcKay]

Thanks for the update.
I thought the Spit was only open on the weekends?
Rob

[Anonymous]

I guess I know where I'm going tomorrow morning...

Anyone want to meet up?  Shoot me a pm and I'll see ya there at about 8am.

Attila

[Andrew McKinley]

The spit is only 'open' on weekends but I've walked right past the guard at the front gate on weekdays and he didn't seem to care at all. So, I don't think its really an issue. I work on weekends so I thought I'd try a weekday and the guy basically told me not to get in the way of the trucks...but otherwise didn't care... so, I stay off the road until I get near the red bridge and there isn't really a problem.... apparently it is closed on weekdays due to liability issues as it is technically a 'construction site' even though, as everyone knows, there is no construction on the west side where birders primarily go....
Still, I've only done that twice so maybe if a different guard is working others wont be as lucky?
-Andrew

[angelicque]

i'm so glad you found him

it's going to be great watching him grow into an adult - if he sticks around here, that is!

you didn't see any owls?

Hi everyone,

Thanks to Ian and Angelicque for describing the whereabouts of the Bald Eagle on the spit... I went out yesterday and managed to find it... I got lucky and spotted him near the end of the first cormorant nesting area....no good pictures unfortunately, he was in a tree a would not permit me to get close enough with my medium quality camera. Also spotted the usual range of ducks, an American Pipit (I thought they had gone by now), a Northern Harrier, A rough legged hawk (I am not 100% on this one), some red tails and kestrels, and an adult peregrine falcon. The Falcon was seen being harassed by a Kestrel in flight and then I tracked him to the tall tree on the south side of the red bridge where he was quite content to sit while I took pictures... unfortunately they are very dark since the sun was behind him at that point.

Anyways, thanks again guys!
-Andrew

[Andrew McKinley]

just a great horned owl... I have seen the Barred owl, the great horned, and the long eared recently so I was only really looking for Short Eared Owls and hence didn't spend much time in the forest... no luck with the short ears today though.....