Way to go Aafke, I would have done the same thing. Poor Seal, hope he made it back out. Nice pics too!

Looks like Beauty at nest. 1:46
Hiding behind Main Cam...see her?

Flew off at 1:51

Audubon California
A young Snowy Owl, photographed in Alaska by Floyd Davidson. We were lucky to see one of these (a rehabilitated owl) close up a couple days ago. Really cool.

Back again about 4.30, making up for lost time. Downloading video of her arriving, will post on flickr when converted....Dave

Some pics from MAK.....LUCKY!!!

Bald eagle on Ranch
Blurry Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle flying away from me, yesterday.
Turkey Vultures on a water tower near Bella Vista,Arkansas. Stretching their wings.
1-4-11
TV's on water tower
1-4-11
Sue and her new man. This BIG BOY likes her.
Mama and baby.
Sue's BF.

MAK saw 8 RTH, 9 Hawks she could not ID, 15 TV's, 9 were in a kettle, 3 Kestrels, and 3 Bald eagles.

 

On Jan. 1, we spotted a southern flying squirrel in the Eagle Cam nest. You can see his big eyes "shining" in the infrared image. This little guy appeared to be snacking on some leftover food brought by the eagles.

UFOTD time! (useless fact of the day). In most birds, 60-80% of their feathers are to be found on their head and neck. well there you go.

Ireland

Ok... gotta ask... How is this source "Ireland"? Something I should know?... or be concerned about?! Is someone in this broke and benighted country getting funding for this?? And, if so, is there any way I can get a gig with them?? Kindly respond with indecent alacrity.

LOL Bobbie, I get me sources from Bird Watch Ireland. Seems they know wee bit!

UFOTD time! (useless fact of the day). In most birds, 60-80% of their feathers are to be found on their head and neck. well there you go.

Ireland

[!!! Resident adults sill on territory!January 02, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow PagesCPF Volunteer Reports:While on my way home from the Scarborough Town Centre, I decided to drive past the Consilium Towers to see if there was any raptor activity.Driving east along Progress Ave. brought me to 200 Consilium Place, the building situated on the North West corner of Consilium Place and Progress Ave. I quickly scanned the top of the building and found a lone peregrine on the 3rd tier of the southeast corner. After waiting for about 2 minutes, a second peregrine – of larger stature, my guess would be the female – came and landed on the same ledge as the other bird.While no breeding was present, the birds were cheeyupping with each other and, given their close proximity to one another – no more than 30ft apart – I can safely say that this is a pair of birds who know each other and obviously tolerate each other very well.My guess is that the 2 birds were Rueben and Lawrie, and that they will be using this location as their nesting site for 2011. I’ll swing by a couple more times this week to see if any more activity is happening.Attila Papp]

!!! Resident adults sill on territory!
January 02, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Volunteer Reports:

While on my way home from the Scarborough Town Centre, I decided to drive past the Consilium Towers to see if there was any raptor activity.
Driving east along Progress Ave. brought me to 200 Consilium Place, the building situated on the North West corner of Consilium Place and Progress Ave. I quickly scanned the top of the building and found a lone peregrine on the 3rd tier of the southeast corner. After waiting for about 2 minutes, a second peregrine – of larger stature, my guess would be the female – came and landed on the same ledge as the other bird.
While no breeding was present, the birds were cheeyupping with each other and, given their close proximity to one another – no more than 30ft apart – I can safely say that this is a pair of birds who know each other and obviously tolerate each other very well.
My guess is that the 2 birds were Rueben and Lawrie, and that they will be using this location as their nesting site for 2011. I’ll swing by a couple more times this week to see if any more activity is happening.
Attila Papp

!!! At least one adult still very active on territory!
December 29, 2010 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:

A lovely peregrine falcon just finished his/her dinner on the fence between the Alliance Francaise and The National Ballet of Canada at Spadina and Lakeshore before taking off south between the buildings. Very cool. I had no idea they wintered here. Thought it might be of interest.
Joanna

!!! Etobicoke Pefa`s on territory doing some bird control!
December 23, 2010 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:

Hi CPF
Etobicoke Sun Life Centre Update:

From the North side of the 3300 Bloor Street West we are currently watching one of the Falcons wreak havoc ( from the blue circle) on the local pigeon population.
Usually on Wednesday’s or Thursday we get to watch “Him� shred his kill on the corner of the building across from us (the red circle). We might get luck today a see an actually strike.
Merry Christmas!
Randy

!!! Niagara falls Pefa`s still very much in view!
December 11, 2010 - Niagara Falls
CPF Postmaster Reports:

Sorry for this is a late report. On December 11, 2010, while having breakfast at the Grand Buffet a peregrine flew past the window from the river between the Fallsview and the Skylon Tower. Not 30 seconds later another flew by on the same flight path. I believe they were two different birds due to the direction of flight that there would not have been sufficient time it to be the same bird to come back around.
Barb Wright

!!! Peregrines and Red Tails Active
January 04, 2011 - Toronto - Four Seasons
Linda Woods Reports:

Over the past few days, lots of activity seen from the local Red tailed Hawks and the peregrines. As Harry has reported the peregrines frequent the condo buildings and office towers in the area of Bay/Bloor Sts. Today a single peregrine came from  the north side of Bloor and Avenue Road and headed South towards Charles Street.  The peregrines seen to be defending this area, as the other day a single peregrine was pushing the local Red Tailed Hawk away from the Manulife Building.

Both Adults in View
January 04, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:

Both King Street Adults remain in the area. Today, one was sitting on the spire of St. James Cathedral. Later in the afternoon both adults were on the ledges of Dundee Place.

http://www.birdphoto.fi/ A great site

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[2010 ended with some excitement for Nat Shambaugh as he discovered a Northern Hawk Owl hanging out in the fields around Towne-Aire farm at the end of Jones Brook Rd in Berlin! “Go west on route 2 out of Montpelier, turn left at the fork past the Dairy Creme onto Three Mile Bridge Rd,� directed Nat, “go over the bridge and turn right onto the river road and start looking around in the tree tops and elec. poles]

http://northbranchnaturecenter.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-years-northern-hawk-owl-in-berlin.html Pics

2010 ended with some excitement for Nat Shambaugh as he discovered a Northern Hawk Owl hanging out in the fields around Towne-Aire farm at the end of Jones Brook Rd in Berlin! “Go west on route 2 out of Montpelier, turn left at the fork past the Dairy Creme onto Three Mile Bridge Rd,� directed Nat, “go over the bridge and turn right onto the river road and start looking around in the tree tops and elec. poles

[Blanche the swan has returned to the lagoons at the Palace of Fine Arts after a tough year that found her brother murdered by vandals]

Blanche is back and she’s brought some friends to enjoy the lagoon at the Palace of Fine Arts with her.

The 13-year-old white mute swan — which was removed from her home in November for protection after her sister Monday was killed by vandals — was returned quietly Sunday, according to her caregivers.

“It’s been so good to see them on the water,� said Gayle Hagerty, one of Blanche’s caretakers “It just felt so lonely without them; it felt very incomplete.�

Hagerty, along with her colleague Judy Whilt, found Blanche her new companions: brother and sister white mute swans Belly and Blue Boy.

Those birds were flown in from New York six weeks ago and housed at Jack Long’s 1-acre exotic-bird sanctuary in Point Reyes Station. Blanche joined the pair just before Christmas so they could all become acquainted.

Long, an exotic bird and waterfowl breeder, said swans like Blanche are known to be companion animals. In November, Blanche became the last remaining swan in the lagoon after unknown assailants killed Monday by snapping her neck.

“[Blanche] could’ve stayed in the lagoon,� he said, “but she would’ve gotten pretty lonely.�

Swans had been incorporated into the design of the Palace of Fine Arts, which was built in 1915 as part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

According to Hagerty, Blanche seemed pleased to be home.

“She’s all wiggles. She was doing some dives in to the water and flapping wings,� Hagerty said. “Blanche is so happy to be back.�

Her companions, however, are taking a little longer to adjust.

“It’s to be expected,� Hagerty said. “They’ve had a lot of handling in the last six weeks.�

To prepare for the return and prevent future disturbance of the animals, the Recreation and Park Department, which oversees the Palace of Fine Arts, is reviewing security measures including surveillance, according to Hagerty.

A security guard has already been stationed at the lagoon, Hagerty said. 

akoskey@sfexaminer.com


Blanche the swan has returned to the lagoons at the Palace of Fine Arts after a tough year that found her brother murdered by vandals

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A vulture tagged by Israeli scientists strayed into Saudi Arabia, prompting officials to accuse Israel of spying.

The vulture, found by Saudi security officials in a rural area, wore a transmitter and leg bracelet bearing the name of Tel Aviv University, the Israeli daily Maariv said Tuesday.

Scientists at the university said the bird was tagged to study migration patterns in the region, the Hebrew-language newspaper said.

Arab-language Web sites posted details of the vulture's flight, alleging it was a Zionist plot and that Israel was training the birds for espionage, the report said.

The Saudi Arabian newspaper al-Weeam was the first to report the incident. It said the vulture landed near the home of a sheik in the community of Hayel. The report said the bird had a "foul odor coming out of its mouth -- proof of a Zionist plot." This led to a spate of anti-Israeli comments in the Arab media.

The English-language Israel Today Web site said the Iranian Tabnak news agency reported the serial number on the bird's tag left no doubt it was sent to spy on Saudi Arabia and other countries.

The "spy personal number of X63 [the identification number on the bird's bracelet] leaves no doubt that the other birds are going to be sent by the Zionist regime for espionage against Saudi Arabia and other countries."

Spy