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| Sutro Hawks Explore - Clark's Closer Click on images to see larger versions I'll start with the Clark's and then catch up on images from the week. Usually I like to post a narrative, but given the lack of time and the wealth of images, I'll post them in random order. Choose your own adventure. | Posted: June 18, 2008 | |
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This morning (June 18) he dropped in around 10:30 and again departed over the heads of gleeful birders. |
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The adult female Red-tail at Sutro retreats after descending from her perch to hunt near the ruins and finding a waiting armada of blackbirds. |
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One of the Sutro young showing off a dorsal view of feathers in perfect form. |
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Learning to kite in the steady breezes over the Sutro Baths. |
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The young hawk takes a moment to investigate the photographer. |
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Making room on the perch for a sibling. |
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To leave or not to leave? |
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Spotting a snake in the grass, the female descends with outstretched legs to cast a killing blow. |
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She leaves with the snake while a fledgling pleads for food. I haven't seen them feed a snake to the young. The adults tend to keep snakes for themselves. |
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Practicing their aerial skills. The young hawks are extraordinary flyers after only 2 weeks. |
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Everything is new and needs exploring. |
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Standing calmly for a wonderful portrait. |
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What's going on? The female Red-tail emerges from a failed hunt which took her deep into the vegetation. |
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A moment before. |
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Cutting each other off and tackling each other in mid-air. Both techniques are well within the rules of the game. |
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On a grey day in Sutro Heights Park, a fledgling Barn Swallow swoops by. |
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Near El Polin Spring, a Black Phoebe on the hunt... |
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and returning. |
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A beautiful Finch approaches the spring. |
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Back at Sutro, a young hawk glides by. |
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Nesting already? A juvenile hawk rests directly on a branch early in the morning. |
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A lovely view of a young Red-tail's wings. |
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Beautiful birds in flight. The young hawks can be quite gregarious and equally lethargic depending on the time of day. |
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The adult female returns to her perch after an attempted hunt. On the hillside below her fledglings call repeatedly while waddling around like chickens. |
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External Links
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Guide | |||
Copyright Notice - Images, graphic design, and text ©2007 Walter Kitundu, San Francisco, California.
It is unlawful to reproduce or distribute these images via any medium, digital or physical, without the express consent of the artist/photographer.