Rondeau Ric

American kestrel, near Blenheim sewage lagoons, Ontario, Canada, Feb 3, 2019. We were out looking for short eared owls when we came across a red tailed hawk and a kestrel. They were perched on the top of different solar panels having an afternoon snack. No short eared owls. Falco sparverius It can be tough being one of the smallest birds of prey. Despite their fierce lifestyle, American Kestrels end up as prey for larger birds such as Northern Goshawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Barn Owls, American Crows, and Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, as well as rat snakes, corn snakes, and even fire ants. source -  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/

We were out looking for tundra swans when I spotted this merlin at the same time Anne saw a dozen swans. We watched the merlin drop of the post and retrieve something, turned out to be a bird carcass, and return to the post. Falco columbarius The name “Merlin” comes from esmerillon, the old French name for the species. Merlins used to be called “pigeon hawks” because in flight they look somewhat pigeon-like. Their species name, columbarius, is also a reference to pigeons. source -  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Merlin/

Another of the raptors we were able to photograph free flying at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. Haliaeetus leucocephalus  The largest Bald Eagle nest on record, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was 2.9 meters in diameter and 6.1 meters tall. Another famous nest—in Vermilion, Ohio—was shaped like a wine glass and weighed almost two metric tons. It was used for 34 years until the tree blew down.

Fellow bird photographer David took out to see his "pet" hawk. At first he saw a no show but finally showed up as we were heading home after photographing ducks. Buteo jamaicensis The Red-tailed Hawk has a thrilling, raspy scream that sounds exactly like a raptor should sound. At least, that’s what Hollywood directors seem to think. Whenever a hawk or eagle appears on screen, no matter what species, the shrill cry on the soundtrack is almost always a Red-tailed Hawk.

Another photo from the boat, so many birds so little time. This osprey sat on top of a pole in the marsh and allowed us to drift close . Pandion haliaetus Ospreys are unusual among hawks in possessing a reversible outer toe that allows them to grasp with two toes in front and two behind. Barbed pads on the soles of the birds' feet help them grip slippery fish. When flying with prey, an Osprey lines up its catch head first for less wind resistance.

We saw this young peregrine while boating on Sunday. He was on a sandbar in the middle of the bay and was busy grooming. He got up and spooked the birds in the area including a gull. Falco peregrinus The Peregrine Falcon is a very fast flier, averaging 40-55 km/h (25-34 mph) in traveling flight, and reaching speeds up to 112 km/h (69 mph) in direct pursuit of prey. During its spectacular hunting stoop from heights of over 1 km (0.62 mi), the peregrine may reach speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph) as it drops toward its prey. source - Cornell Lab or Ornithology.

Yesterday a male sharppie hit the living room window but managed to fly away. A few minutes later we found it sitting on a log at the side ofthe house. We watched it, from a distance for about 5 minutes. It hopped off the log and went to the side of the house and it walked to the back corner near my photo blind. It hunkered down there for several hours. We watched through the windows hoping it would fly away. After talking with the local bird rehabilitator we captured the hawk just before dark and kept it in a ventilated box overnight with the hope of releasing it in the morning. Unfortunately it didn't survive until morning. Accipiter striatus 

Objects are bigger than they appear. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Being chosen to participate in a raptor show sounded like fun when the eagle was 70 feet away. The closer this female bald eagle flew the bigger it got and the less sure she became about being a perch. At a raptor show sponsored by the Friends of Rondeau. Ontario Falconry Centre put on a great show, as usual.

Belly Band , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A quick identifier for a red tailed hawk is the prominent stripping on its belly, referred to as a belly band. When soaring, adults show rufous on the topside of the tail, hence the Red-Tailed hawk name. Seen at Rondeau Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario,Canada. Buteo jamaicensis