I had a fantastic time during my 4 hours at Sax-Zim Bog today! One of the biggest highlights was seeing 10 Rough-legged Hawks throughout the morning/afternoon. Of the 10, 9 were light morphs and 1 was a dark morph. There was one instance when I observed 5 Rough-legged Hawks in the air at one time (4 through binoculars)!
Sax-Zim Bog photo gallery for this winter (started today): http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/sax-zim_bog_2010_gallery 5 Rough-legged Hawks in one photo: http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011318 Rough-legged Hawk (dark morph): http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011337 My favorite Rough-legged Hawk (light morph) photos: http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011343 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011374 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011350 Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile "eastern"): http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011390 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011397 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011394 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011394 Snow Buntings: http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011410<%20http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011410> http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011413<%20http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/130011413> While observing the Red-tailed Hawk in the field, I was unsure about this bird being of the "Eastern" race or a Harlan's. After studying the bird a little more, as well as looking at the photographs, I'm leaning towards juvenile "Eastern" Red-tailed Hawk. This bird is a juvenile due to the terminal edge on the wing (rear-facing portion on the wing). Adult "Eastern" Red-tailed Hawks' tails tend to be flush rufous in color, with a black subterminal band (inset dark band, from the end of the tail). Western adult Red-tailed Hawks typically show some degree of even barring throughout the tail. Juveniles of both Eastern, Western, and Harlan's can show barred tails. The Red-tailed Hawk in my photograph has a lighter and warmer-toned brown head, which is a coloration not typically found throughout the heads of Harlan's Red-tailed Hawks. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks! Tomorrow's winds look gusty from the NW, eventually turning N over the next two days. There is a chance for a significant songbird/raptor movement soon! Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN NATURALLY AVIAN - Bird photography and guided bird hikes www.pbase.com/birdfedr birdf...@gmail.com ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
