birds – Page 5 – A Thousand Acres of Silphiums

Birds of 2024

birds, wildlife, wildlife photography

A few miscellany bird shots from 2024. Details in captions.

Common Yellowthroat – September at River’s Edge Park, St. Louis County, MO

American Goldfinch – November at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles County, MO

Tree Swallow – November at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles County, MO

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile) – November at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles County, MO

Red-tailed Hawk 2024

birds, wildlife, wildlife photography

I found this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk last February around Carlyle Lake, IL.

Most of my outings over the recent holiday break were pretty slow. Probably due to the warmer winter season so far, finding birds of any sort has been problematic to say the least. I did have some fortune on a trip up to Pike County, Missouri on December 19th, when I found and got my best photos to date of a couple of Golden Eagles.

I am no expert in aging Golden Eagles and it seems to be a bit tricky even for those who are familiar. I believe this first bird would be considered an immature stage, likely between 1 and 3.5 years of age.

Another look at an immature Golden Eagle

This next bird I believe to be a full adult of at least five years.

Here is the same adult Golden Eagle getting into it with a Bald Eagle. This is something I have seen on several occasions when observing the Golden Eagles in Pike County.

Adult Golden Eagle and adult Bald Eagle getting familiar

Sometime patience really pays off. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to visit some places on multiple occasions to increase my chances at an opportunity like this. Hopefully we’ll be getting some real winter weather that will stick around and be able to get more opportunities this season.

-OZB

New Peregrine Falcon at Clarence Cannon NWR

Bird Species of Conservation Concern, birds, Nesting Birds of Missouri, wildlife, wildlife photography

I had the opportunity to visit Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge in Pike County a few times during my holiday break. During each visit, I encountered this first-year Peregrine Falcon in the same particular cottonwood tree that is usually popular with the area’s raptors.

“Wok Sape” a first-year Peregrine Falcon female

I was fortunate to get nice looks and photos that I could clearly see the band information on the left leg. Looking up the information on the Midwest Peregrine Society website, this appears to be a young female bird, named “Wok Sape.” She was hatched on May 21st of this year in Winona County, MN.

According to the Midwest Peregrine Society, the average dispersal distance of female falcons from their natal sites is 345 km (~214 miles). I am still waiting to hear back from the bander that the bird pictured here is indeed “Wok Sape.” If this is indeed the bird I found, then she has moved approximately 645 km (~400 miles) from her hatching location in about four months or so.

As raptors like to do, I watched as this young falcon was harassed a bit by a passing Northern Harrier as seen below.

A passing Northern Harrier passing close to young Wok Sape for close inspection. The Harrier tried to get as close as possible, attempting to land on a nearby branch, but eventually decided the falcon was too well concealed in the branches and left.

Red-shouldered Hawk and Offal

birds, Nesting Birds of Missouri, wildlife, wildlife photography

I found this Red-shouldered Hawk a couple of weeks ago finishing off a squirrel carcass at Bush Wildlife CA.

More Sedge Wren

birds, Nesting Birds of Missouri, wildlife, wildlife photography

Missed on a few target species this fall but you can never have enough Sedge Wren.

Savannah Sparrow

birds, wildlife, wildlife photography

Savannah Sparrows have been easy to find this year.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

birds, wildlife, wildlife photography

It’s been close to 15 years since I’ve had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite bird species, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. This one was photographed on August 31st at Confluence State Park. Thanks a bunch to Diane Bricmont who first pointed this out to us!

Bald Eagles of Lock and Dam #14

Bird Species of Conservation Concern, birds, Nesting Birds of Missouri, wildlife, wildlife photography

Still plugging away at making sure photos that I only posted to Facebook for a couple of years do get captured here on the blog. These photos were taken in January 2019 on one special and frigid day at Lock and Dam #14 along the Mississippi River near LeClaire, IA. I do mean it was a frigid day. I believe the high for this day might have reached 3 °F.