Post by Gord on Jan 12, 2006 9:04:44 GMT -8
Here's something I saw yesterday afternoon at the Harrison River Bridge in Harrison Mills.
I was waiting at the light going towards Agassiz when I saw, what I thought right away,falcon, likely peregrine due to size, flying at about 100 ft from about the southeast heading northwest. The flight didnt quite seem right, but it was flying into the wind so I passed that off at first. I waited with my binoculars for when it reappeared from behind a few trees, hoping for a look before the light changed. As the bird emerged, the traffic light changed (of course) and I was slightly shocked. There was a considerable amount of white under its wings and tail! The bird also seemed slimmer and less bulky than what I saw previously and the flight, while still into the wind, was too light and perhaps 'bouncy' for a peregrine. I did not note the body in the very short look I had before it was in the trees again and I had to move before the cars behind me started to get antsy. The wings caught and held my eye, and of course the light was very poor.
I dont know what this is. I couldnt not find it when I turned around and looked in the area where I best determined it was heading without driving off the bridge. Since it was late afternoon, I wonder if the bird might have been heading to roost for the night and wanted more shelter from the wind and rain among the evergreens.
I know falcons very well, and the flight wasnt quite right (opinion perhaps biased by the appearence of the bird), and the white was a real eye catcher!
This could be a white-tailed kite, or something that once you see it again, a real groaner (partial albino, hybrid escaped falcon from falconer etc)
The habitat is great for kites around Kilby, and this area did have one, to my understanding, years ago.
Ill leave it up to you if anyone wants to pursue this bird. It is high on my list at the moment as Ive learned that when you get that feeling of something 'different' if often is! Always helps when the feeling is supported by what you see!
I was waiting at the light going towards Agassiz when I saw, what I thought right away,falcon, likely peregrine due to size, flying at about 100 ft from about the southeast heading northwest. The flight didnt quite seem right, but it was flying into the wind so I passed that off at first. I waited with my binoculars for when it reappeared from behind a few trees, hoping for a look before the light changed. As the bird emerged, the traffic light changed (of course) and I was slightly shocked. There was a considerable amount of white under its wings and tail! The bird also seemed slimmer and less bulky than what I saw previously and the flight, while still into the wind, was too light and perhaps 'bouncy' for a peregrine. I did not note the body in the very short look I had before it was in the trees again and I had to move before the cars behind me started to get antsy. The wings caught and held my eye, and of course the light was very poor.
I dont know what this is. I couldnt not find it when I turned around and looked in the area where I best determined it was heading without driving off the bridge. Since it was late afternoon, I wonder if the bird might have been heading to roost for the night and wanted more shelter from the wind and rain among the evergreens.
I know falcons very well, and the flight wasnt quite right (opinion perhaps biased by the appearence of the bird), and the white was a real eye catcher!
This could be a white-tailed kite, or something that once you see it again, a real groaner (partial albino, hybrid escaped falcon from falconer etc)
The habitat is great for kites around Kilby, and this area did have one, to my understanding, years ago.
Ill leave it up to you if anyone wants to pursue this bird. It is high on my list at the moment as Ive learned that when you get that feeling of something 'different' if often is! Always helps when the feeling is supported by what you see!
