2009-07-15

I'm a bit excited!

A friend and I usually take a walk around the neighbourhood in the evenings (about a mile) and tonight, we went a different direction. We saw at least three falcons! In the neighbourhood just south of where we live hanging around one of the school yards.

Just little ones and I ID'd them from the cry right off, as being either falcons or hawks, then we got a good look at the underside as one flew directly overhead.

Alas, I didn't have my camera with me and it was dusk enough that I couldn't be sure of the colouring.

We are going to go again a bit earlier tomorrow night - with camera and binoculars and sit quietly to see if we can catch sight of them again. Fast little buggers flyers that they are I may not get anything but blur.

I checked out What Bird and they may be either Merlins or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, the Merlin call is closer though.


Hopefully I will have photos in the next day or so.

Have a good day.

12 comments:

Hilary said...

Wow.. that's very exciting. Do you figure most of them are fledglings? I hope you get to see them again. Keep us posted. :)

Reb said...

They were very small, so they may have been. Last years anyway. I will keep you posted, don't worry.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

3????

David Cranmer said...

No photos needed. You placed me right there with you. Marvelous sighting.

Leah J. Utas said...

Looking forward to the ID'ing. We've got a breeding pair of merlins nearby. Once you know the call it stays with you.

the Bag Lady said...

American Kestrels, perhaps? We have them here, and they are leaving the nests right about now. They aren't very big, and they have a eerie call.

Jay said...

I always have my camera with me. Then I forget I have it and don't a pic anyway. LOL ;-)

g-man said...

Cool beans. I hope you can catch them.

What I thought originally when you said that you saw some Falcons, was that they were a rival gang to the Jets and Sharks ;)

Reb said...

Gary, pretty sure there were 3.

Thanks David. Incredible to see right in the city.

Leah, you are right about the call. J thought they were robins ;)

Sis, according to the site, the Am Kestrels are more colourful than what we saw.

Jay, mine is heavy, so I know it's there. I think I'm too slow, unless I am actually looking for them ;)

G-Man, lol! When you`re a Jet, you`re a Jet!

Dianne said...

I hope you get to see them too!!

how cool

Reb said...

Thanks Dianne.

Barbara Martin said...

Lucky spot if they were Merlins, as these birds are on the Threatened list. Hopefully they will make a full comeback.