Sunday 12 February 2012

Sooty falcon

Took the photos on the 28th of February but I was unable to identify this bird. I have now been told that it is a Sooty falcon.




Sooty falcon, (Falco concolor). This bird has captured something and has it in it's left claw. According to my bird book these birds are rare visitors to this area, though I counted five flying about and hunting.




Here you can see the bird feeding. It was quite a substantial meal as it took the falcon a long while to finish it.




Having a good stretch after feeding.




Took these photos very late evening so the light was almost gone, thus the silhouette 




Meal over and it starts hunting again even though it's almost dark. I suppose that many small animals will start to feel safe in the low light, only to have death swoop down on them from the sky.


The black spot on the left hand edge of the photo is actually a swallow flying by. These falcons also prey on swallows.

2 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

The light may have been waning, but their was still enough to see where the bird got his name.

eileeninmd said...

Falcons are cool birds, great sighting!