Hey all, I stopped by the lagoons on my way to Rochester at about noon today and got a special treat. I studied the shorebirds for about 30 minutes and was taking down some field notes when I heard a "woosh" sound above and to my right. I looked up to see a raptor shoot by no more than 20 feet off the ground. It took one pass at the shorebirds and then came back around and streaked down to pick off a Pectoral Sandpiper from the mudflats. It was an amazing sight. I watched the whole thing through my binoculars. It appeared to reach down and bite the bird moments after snagging the prey. The bird was a Peregrine Falcon. I was able to make the I.D. with the long looks as it flew off into the distance with its prey.
So to add to this. I also watched a family of American Kestrals flying around the ponds when I arrived. I watched an immature catching grasshoppers and eating them on a wire near the entrance. I thought I was pretty special to see two raptors catch and eat prey within such a short time span. All of the shorebirds flew off when the Peregrine made its catch so I proceeded on my drive to Rochester. As I was heading into Utica, I saw a kettle of raptors circling over a field that the farmer was cutting and raking hay. I pulled over and it ended up being two Turkey Vultures with a Red-tailed Hawk and a Swainsons Hawk. They were just circling this one area quite low. All of the sudden the Red - tail went into a dive and caught some prey at the edge of the cut hay. So that made it three raptor kills in less than an hour. I continued to watch the Swainsons Hawk circle for quite a while as this is the most eastern that I have ever seen one. I also got to add that to my Winona County list. So quite a trip. Shorebirds observed at Lewiston Sewage Ponds: Pectoral Sandpiper - 50 or so Baird's Sandpiper - 2 Least Sandpiper - 3 Spotted Sandpiper - 2 Lesser Yellowlegs - 4 Greater Yellowlegs - 2 Also hundreds of immature starlings at the sewage ponds. That was a little sad to see. Chad Aakre Winona County _________________________________________________________________ Dont just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
