I have fond memories of one eating out of my hand one morning while camping at colchuck. (And then had to climb over aasgard with several inches of snow on the ground. )Added a Canada Jay to my life list today!View attachment 26777
This is a ruddy turnstone. Red legs, brown back, dark head and breast. Thicker bill than a sanderling.Over on Hatteras,
This one has me a bit stumped, I'm thinking it's likely a Sanderling, but the coloring has me wondering, the black ring doesn't fit and the bill looks too sharp, but behavior did seem to fit a Sanderling:
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Cheers
This is a ruddy turnstone. Red legs, brown back, dark head and breast. Thicker bill than a sanderling.
Steve
Wow - that worked! Nice shot.Not a bad picture considering I was just holding my phone up to the eyepiece of my spotting scope.
Yes, I would call it a kestrel, probably a female, especially with the light brownish-streaked breast and two dark face slashes. In my eyes, a merlin would be a darker brown overall and have less contrast on the face. But, there does appear to be banding on the tail and that is a feature found in a merlin. If the back was brown, that would confirm a kestrel id.I’m not great at identifying birds.
This one flew up on a tree as I was walking off the beach this morning. This is the best shot I could get with my point and shoot.
Is this a kestrel?
SF
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My 2 cents. I trust @Cabezon far more than myself on i'd's, but I am going to lean towards Merlin. Atleast from my local Merlin/Kestrel color phases on the coast.Yes, I would call it a kestrel, probably a female, especially with the light brownish-streaked breast and two dark face slashes. In my eyes, a merlin would be a darker brown overall and have less contrast on the face. But, there does appear to be banding on the tail and that is a feature found in a merlin. If the back was brown, that would confirm a kestrel id.
Steve
As reflected in your pictures, merlins do not have the pronounced dark "mustache" that you see in kestrels. The bird in @Stonedfish's picture appears to have a mustache. That is what tipped the balance for me (and the fact that kestrels are more common.).My 2 cents. I trust @Cabezon far more than myself on i'd's, but I am going to lean towards Merlin. Atleast from my local Merlin/Kestrel color phases on the coast.
If a kestrel, has to be an immature with the dull color, and this would be perfect season for it. Merlin tails have a much darker look with thicker banding it seems.
The chest on @Stonedfish bird also has just enough rust in it to look like a Merlin as well.
Nice little falcon we know for sure !
One of my local Merlins in the Fall
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(Sorry for the thread hijack)As reflected in your pictures, merlins do not have the pronounced dark "mustache" that you see in kestrels. The bird in @Stonedfish's picture appears to have a mustache. That is what tipped the balance for me (and the fact that kestrels are more common.).
Steve
Gyrfalcon, just curious what you mean by Eagle's yearly hiatus, I've noticed the Eagles are harder to find and sorta lazy right now....Osprey today in our old spruce tree. Great to have Osprey here while the eagles are mostly off on their short yearly hiatus.
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@Wadin' Boot -speaking with researcher Dan Varland, Ph.D. from Coastal Raptors, he told me the birds likely head up to BC and hit the early Chinook runs (Fraser river?).Gyrfalcon, just curious what you mean by Eagle's yearly hiatus, I've noticed the Eagles are harder to find and sorta lazy right now....