Comments on: Raptor Project Brings Winged Predators to Space Coast Birding Festival http://www.blogthebeach.com/2009/space-coast-birding-festival/raptor-project-brings-winged-predators-to-space-coast-birding-festival Florida beaches in words, pictures, and video. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:01:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: beachhunter http://www.blogthebeach.com/2009/space-coast-birding-festival/raptor-project-brings-winged-predators-to-space-coast-birding-festival/comment-page-1#comment-11073 beachhunter Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:03:17 +0000 http://www.blogthebeach.com/?p=1359#comment-11073 Hi Susan. Yes seeing a large hawk flying nearby is exciting. Some possibilities: Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm Most likely, in my opinion, it was a red-shouldered hawk http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/lifehistory Here is an adult red-shouldered hawk I photographed sitting in a tree on Sanibel Island: http://twitpic.com/rz5fa We also saw a juvenile red-shouldered hawk hunting among the sea grapes and coconut palms above the sea oat-covered dunes on Sanibel Island in October. We don't usually see hawks (other than ospreys) on the beach. Could it have been a falcon? Yes, it could have been. Falcons have pointy wings, as opposed to the accipiters and buteos that have more rounded wingtips and wider wings. The underbelly of a golden color makes me think it is not a falcon. Good luck figuring it out. Raptors can be a real challenge. There can be quite a bit of color variation among individuals regionally. Hi Susan. Yes seeing a large hawk flying nearby is exciting. Some possibilities: Cooper’s hawk or sharp-shinned hawk http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm

Most likely, in my opinion, it was a red-shouldered hawk http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/lifehistory
Here is an adult red-shouldered hawk I photographed sitting in a tree on Sanibel Island: http://twitpic.com/rz5fa

We also saw a juvenile red-shouldered hawk hunting among the sea grapes and coconut palms above the sea oat-covered dunes on Sanibel Island in October. We don’t usually see hawks (other than ospreys) on the beach.

Could it have been a falcon? Yes, it could have been. Falcons have pointy wings, as opposed to the accipiters and buteos that have more rounded wingtips and wider wings. The underbelly of a golden color makes me think it is not a falcon.

Good luck figuring it out. Raptors can be a real challenge. There can be quite a bit of color variation among individuals regionally.

]]> By: Susan Haumesser http://www.blogthebeach.com/2009/space-coast-birding-festival/raptor-project-brings-winged-predators-to-space-coast-birding-festival/comment-page-1#comment-11072 Susan Haumesser Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:47:12 +0000 http://www.blogthebeach.com/?p=1359#comment-11072 Hello, I just returned from a stay on St. George Island. I am curious about a large bird I saw swoop by my screened porch. The bird may have been a peregrine falcon. It was not an eagle. The markings I saw was a underbelly of golden color, large dark wings and large talons...from my perspective. My thoughts were a large hawk but my friend said it was a falcon. Can you tell me what birds I may research that fit this description that are seen on St. Geroge Island? It was an exhiliterating experience. Thanks, Susan Hello,
I just returned from a stay on St. George Island. I am curious about a large bird I saw swoop by my screened porch. The bird may have been a peregrine falcon. It was not an eagle. The markings I saw was a underbelly of golden color, large dark wings and large talons…from my perspective. My thoughts were a large hawk but my friend said it was a falcon. Can you tell me what birds I may research that fit this description that are seen on St. Geroge Island? It was an exhiliterating experience.
Thanks,
Susan

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