Aerial Antics

Sharp-shinned hawk (left) and Cooper's hawk

Hawk-watching isn't always action-packed although this day it was!! Usually when we see a small-sized hawk harassing a larger one, it's a sharp-shinned hawk. This day, one chose to harass a Cooper's hawk. Both are accipiters; short-winged, long-tailed hawks built for agility and bursts of speed.

Luckily they flew right overhead and Gerry clicked away with his camera. The Cooper's hawk is the larger of the two. 

  

 

 

 Seconds later, they both flew off unscathed.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Merry

While I was at Putney Mountain hawk-watching, Gerry took our westies out to a nice spot on our property that has a great view of the valley. While Merry and Pippin explored the area for chipmunks, Gerry enjoyed visits from an adult and immature red-tailed hawks.

adult red-tailed hawk

immature red-tailed hawk

One way to identify an immature red-tail, since he lacks the red tail, is the "belly band". Both adults and immatures have this characteristic.

Another identifying mark on red-tails is the "patagial bar", the dark bar on the leading edge of the inner wing. 

This is a great time of year to be outside and enjoy migrating hawks!

Putney Mountain Hawk Watch

Starting in late August through October, volunteer hawk-watchers count migrating hawks on Putney Mountain. Check out the HMANA site to follow Putney Mtn hawk migration.

Cooper's hawk

Sharp-shinned hawk (left), Cooper's hawk (right)

 Sharp-shinned hawks greatly out number their bigger relatives. So far, we've had 192 sharpies and 14 coops come through. These two, put on a nice sparring match.

Cooper's hawk

Osprey

We had 8 ospreys migrating today.

immature broad-winged hawk

adult broad-winged hawk

we've had 3184 broadies so far this season!!

immature bald eagle

We're all looking in different directions to make sure we don't miss a hawk!

Casco Bay, Portland, Maine

looking back at Portland

We took the Casco Bay Lines "Mailboat Run" on our visit to Portland. The 3 hour long trip brings mail, passengers and freight to the islands; Little Diamond, Great Diamond, Long, Cliff and Chebeague.

common tern

There were lots of gulls and terns, fabulous scenery and great photo ops!

double-crested cormorant taking off, running, across the water

common terns

I don't envy this boat owner's clean-up job! Maybe the terns didn't care for the boat's name, "Osprey"!

laughing gull

laughing gull

common loon

lighthouse and a profile rock

Scarborough Marsh, part 2

Least Sandpiper

More pictures from our visits to Scarborough Marsh. I love this place, if I lived in Maine, I'd be here everyday.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper preening, Semipalmated Plover in center

Lesser Yellowlegs

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Least Sandpiper

Double-crested Cormorants

Mallard

Eastern Phoebe

Lesser Yellowlegs

Herring Gull flies across a photo-shopped moon!

Scarborough Marsh

 We visited friends in Maine a couple weeks ago and stopped at Scarborough Marsh for some birding. This is Maine's largest salt water marsh, covering 3100 acres. It's an amazing place for birds. Here's some of the ones we saw. I'll post more photos in the next blog.

Snowy Egret

 

Tricolored Heron on the left - Snowy Egret on right.

Tricolored Heron

A Northern Harrier was scanning the marsh for food. 

Glossy Ibis

This Forster's Tern was a nice find!

Great Egret

Merlin

action shots of the Merlin