Taken just south of San Francisco.
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Snake for Supper /
Catching snakes is a little trickier than catching gophers. Snakes have reach. That dangerous head needs to be dealt with as soon as possible but in the case above, mobbing blackbirds are diverting her attention. This is an adult female Red-tailed Hawk that mated for several seasons with a resident male at Sutro Heights Park. He was over 13 years old when I checked his band number and if he's still around that would make him over 15. Incredible.
Head for the sea and the Blackbirds eventually give up.
While aloft, she administers a fatal bite to the back of the head and can fly on without the snake writhing and attempting to bite her back.
Iceland Part 6 /
Lock.
Unlocking the secrets of puddles in the highlands.
Locked.
Life abounds.
Bad Pictures of a Brilliant Moment /
This evening birds rose in a cloud from the surface of Bolinas Lagoon and a Peregrine powered across the water with great purpose. I soon spotted the reason for its determined flight in the shape of a fleeing Marbled Godwit.
The falcon would turn in tighter circles that the Godwit and angle in to cut it off. It often seemed to be flying ahead of its prey.
No escape. Climbing offered no refuge from the relentless pursuit as the falcon easily rose with its target as they banked and swirled for nearly two minutes.
The Peregrine seemed to be closing in I thought the Godwit was doomed but on the next pass over deep water the Godwit landed quickly and floated on the water's surface. The Peregrine immediately lost interest and flew on toward the distant shore.
Fly on over to 10,000 Birds to get a dose of Everyday Sunshine with Great Blue Herons.