Red-tailed Hawk – High Diving

 Birds, Red-tailed Hawk  No Responses »
Dec 312011
 
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We were at a local park this weekend, when we heard a Red-tailed Hawk call high above us. Looking up we spotted three Red-tailed Hawks circling several hundred feet above us.

As we watched, the hawks interacted with each other by flying closer together, and then separating rapidly. During this time, several more calls were heard, and the hawks continued generally circling together.

After a short while, the hawk’s flight carried them further to the north, and we lost sight of them.

Several more minutes passed, and we heard another loud Red-tailed Hawk call. Looking around, we spotted a hawk diving out of the sky from several hundred feet up. The dive was nearly vertical, and he was calling all of the way down. He disappeared behind a group of trees approximately 150 yards/meters to the east.

After only 3 or 4 minutes, we again heard a Red-tailed Hawk call, and this time a large hawk emerged from behind the trees to the east. The hawk flew out from behind the trees, less than 25 yards/meters up in the air, and then circled over our position.

As this bird circled above us, rising on a thermal, a second Red-tailed Hawk emerged from behind the same set of trees following the first, and flying over our heads.

Finally, just a few moments later, a third Red-tailed Hawk emerged from behind the trees and also flew over our position, following the first two hawks into the air.

As we watched, the three hawks continued to fly together until they had moved far enough to the north for us to lose sight of them.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - March 11, 2007
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Warm (70-89°F/21-32°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Recreation-Park
Type of Behavior - Mating
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Red-tailed Hawk Observation Location

American Kestrel – Window Collision

 American Kestrel, Birds  No Responses »
Dec 292011
 
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Urban environments are rife with hazards that wild animals are not well equipped to deal with. Windows on houses and other structures are one such example, especially where birds are concerned.

Under the right conditions windows can become very reflective. Depending upon what is reflected in these windows, they can create the illusion of a legitimate pass through to wide open spaces. These reflected illusions can confuse fast moving birds into commiting to flying through, often a high speeds. When this happens a window collision will result. High speed impacts with glass windows can be devastating to birds, often causing severe injury or even death.

This series of photographs is of an American Kestrel that made a miscalculation of this type with fatal results.

 
County - Collin
City - Wylie
Date - Feb 14, 2010
Time of Day - Afternoon
Temperature - Cold (less than 50°F/10°C)
Weather - Cloudy
Habitat - Residential-Single Family
Type of Behavior - Death
Gender - Male
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - American Kestrel Observation Location

Ring-billed Gull – Gulls Galore

 Ring-billed Gull  4 Responses »
Dec 282011
 
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We discovered these gulls on one of the many small lakes in the general vicinity of Hebron Parkway and I-35. Also in close proximity are the Trinity River and the DFW Landfill. The landfill alone may best explain this large congregation of gulls.

At one point during the observation the gulls became agitated and took to the air. A great mass of the birds swirled above us. In their midst, I observed a Turkey Vulture and a Red-tailed Hawk. It seems unlikely, but it may be possible that one of these two birds were responsible for exciting the gulls.

 
County - Denton
City - Lewisville
Date - Nov 22, 2011
Time of Day - Afternoon
Temperature - Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Water-Lake
Type of Behavior - Congregating
Gender - Mixed
Maturity - Mixed
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Ring-billed Gull Observation Location

Eastern Screech Owl – Little Guy

 Eastern Screech Owl  No Responses »
Dec 272011
 
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This Eastern Screech Owl was photographed in the front yard of a Carrollton residence. This particular house has a number of Cypress trees in its yard. The owl first attracted our attention as he moved from tree to tree. He utilized the lower branches of the Cypress trees as he navigated across the front yard.

During the photography session, the owl allowed us a close approach and did not seem to mind the attention, but he never stayed in one spot for long. The observation ended when the owl moved too high up in a tree to be photographed any longer.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Dec 14, 2009
Time of Day - Night
Temperature - Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Residential-Single Family
Type of Behavior - Roaming
Gender - Uncertain
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Eastern Screech Owl Observation Location

Franklin’s Gull – Fall Migrant

 Franklin's Gull  No Responses »
Dec 262011
 
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These Franklin’s Gulls were part of a much larger congregation of Ring-Billed Gulls. They were observed in one of the many small lakes near the DFW Landfill in Lewisville, Texas.

 
County - Denton
City - Lewisville
Date - Nov 22, 2011
Time of Day - Afternoon
Temperature - Cool (50-69°F/10-21°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Water-Lake
Type of Behavior - Congregating
Gender - Uncertain
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Franklin’s Gull Observation Location

Gadwall – December Ducks

 Birds, Gadwall  No Responses »
Dec 252011
 
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Two male Gadwalls in our local Beaver pond.

 
County - Denton
City - Carrollton
Date - Dec 21, 2011
Time of Day - Noon
Temperature - Cold (less than 50°F/10°C)
Weather - Clear
Habitat - Water-Creek
Type of Behavior - Swimming
Gender - Male
Maturity - Adult
Observer - Chris Jackson
Main Article - Gadwall Observation Location
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