What did you see in your binoculars today? (3 Viewers)

[Thotmosis]

Last week i a took a picture of this turtles in the park. Just now i see that there is also a King Fischer on the picture.

I had my Leica 10x25 with me and the big turtle (his name is Karel) noticed that i was looking at him and he didn’t like that because he gave me The Evil Eye.

 

[Thotmosis]

Last few days, among others: Eurasian coot, Grey Heron and great crested grebe.

Used bins: Leica UV 10x25, Leitz 7x35 and Zeiss FL 7x42.

 

[Maljunulo]

I watched a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) harrying a perched Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) at a range of fifty yards or so. (yesterday)

The Hawk was facing away from me, and perched on a fence. The surprising thing to me was the fact that the Mockingbird actually made contact with the hawk, in the middle of its back, at least a half-dozen times. There was no mistaking the fact.

I had seen an aerial incident some days ago, where I thought there was contact, but couldn’t be sure. This time I was sure.

I never realized that Mockingbirds were so bold, or so fierce, I’m not sure which. (or maybe so dumb)

Zeiss SF 8X32.

 

[Owene]

Peregrine thermaling near the nest site. Not sure if it was one of the resident pair or an offspring.

Swaro 10x32 nl pure

 

[Maljunulo]

A bit earlier this evening, I was privileged to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk run down and snatch a bird out of the air.

Wow! I have never seen anything like it. The hawk grabbed the bird, and landed in a field about 100 yards from me to kill it (I guess) and then flew away with it.

There were some very fast and violent maneuvers before the grab, and the hawk did not use its beak to kill the bird. I guess it squeezed and suffocated it. I just had time to register that it looked like a hawk, but usually the little bird is the pursuer, and the catch was made. The speed and maneuverability were astonishing. Such reflexes!

The whole incident may have lasted two or three minutes at most, and I think more like two. Most of it was spent with the hawk on the ground. 😔

Habicht 8X30 W

 

[Viraj]

Yesterday my wife and I visited Eagle-owl Valley - ENCI Quarry, Limburg, Netherlands. After a long time, my NL 8x42 got some use. My wife was taking UV 10x32 HD. Also, I took my one and only scope, Kowa TSN-501.

View attachment IMG_7588.jpg

It was a nice sunny day and NL gave me some wonderful views. Unfortunately, the Eagle-Owls were already left the area (as I was informed by a senior birder I met there). However, I could include Little Grebe in my life list.

It was amazing to see Eurasian Kestrels hovering from the platform above. Another view that made me curious was a few dozen of Common Wood-Pigeons hanging into a wall of the abandoned quarry. It seemed they were eating something but I couldn't recognize what.



On the way back I could include Rook to my life list. Two of them were feeding on garbage with many other Eurasian Jackdaws.

 

[NDhunter]

I watched a Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) harrying a perched Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) at a range of fifty yards or so. (yesterday)

The Hawk was facing away from me, and perched on a fence. The surprising thing to me was the fact that the Mockingbird actually made contact with the hawk, in the middle of its back, at least a half-dozen times. There was no mistaking the fact.

I had seen an aerial incident some days ago, where I thought there was contact, but couldn’t be sure. This time I was sure.

I never realized that Mockingbirds were so bold, or so fierce, I’m not sure which. (or maybe so dumb)

Zeiss SF 8X32.

Hawks are a wonder to watch, and birds often swoop down and attack them, they get used to it.
It happens all the time. I live on a farm, and one time I saw a hawk come down, kill and take
away a Norther Flicker busy pecking for insects in the lawn.
Jerry

 

[Patudo]

Wow! I have never seen anything like it...

...I just had time to register that it looked like a hawk, but usually the little bird is the pursuer, and the catch was made. The speed and maneuverability were astonishing. Such reflexes!

That pretty much sums up why practically all my birding focuses on trying to see things like this. To see those few seconds of incredible manoeuvering from predator and prey can make up for hours of patient observation. You're right, it is indeed a privilege. It's a real test for both observers and optics.

That was a pretty fortunate spot as the accipiter hawks do so much hunting in or near cover, and the final moments of the hunt are so often out of view (unlike falcons which fly high and are easier to follow). Your sharp-shinned hawk is a most elegant bird, a little more so than our European sparrowhawk I think, the females of which can get quite large, up to nearly the size of a male Cooper's I think. I have seen sparrowhawks on the soar regularly, seen many spectacular stoops down into the trees, but can only recall a few times where I actually saw the target (funnily enough, with the prey getting away in all cases).

 

[Patudo]

Anyone have any idea how far away a soaring Red-tail is visible to a human?

I would think under good conditions I can spot one at about 1km. For me, peregrines start becoming tricky to see with the unaided eye at about 700/800m (assuming reasonable seeing conditions) but the European common buzzard (a little smaller and slighter than the American redtail), being larger, blockier, and slower, can be seen from further away.

 

[Maljunulo]

I would think under good conditions I can spot one at about 1km. For me, peregrines start becoming tricky to see with the unaided eye at about 700/800m (assuming reasonable seeing conditions) but the European common buzzard (a little smaller and slighter than the American redtail), being larger, blockier, and slower, can be seen from further away.

Thank you.

 

[GrampaTom]

I'm skeptical...

 

[dries1]

I'm skeptical...

Where have you been?

 

[GrampaTom]

Birding

 

[Miguel Aguilar @birdnomad]

Yesterday I was with my cousin, just taking the dog for a walk, but of course I took my binoculars and was able to see a Black Stork flying really high. A lifer for me. This is near Madrid, in Spain.

I would love to get better views and is possible photos ¿any one knows good places in Spain or Germany?

Today I saw some fledglings of Iberian Magpie, which is actually really common around here, but I love them. They were part of a big group foraging near the house.

Good evening everyone!

 

[Maljunulo]

I was just watching a Mocking Bird hunting bugs by perching, and then dropping on them from above, much like a hawk. The bugs were on the ground in a field which was mowed a few days ago.

At 125 yards or so, the bird clearly had a bug in its mouth.

Habicht 8X30 W

 

[jafritten]

I used the Curios on a hiking trip through the Luneburg Heath in north Germany. My highlight was this shady fellow I found in a derelict barn:

Another curious encounter I had with a Green Woodpecker. The juvenile bird stuck its tongue out for as long as I watched it (a few minutes). Take that in:

 

[Maljunulo]

For a low-contrast optics test, try spotting circumferential grooves in stationary passenger car tires at about 150-160 yards. I can see them some of the time, depending on the light.

Habicht 8X30 W

 

[Maljunulo]

I just saw a crow fly backwards by launching into the wind from point a, and flapping slowly enough to drift backwards to point b, and landing there.

Habicht 8X30 W

It launched from the top of the leafed-out tree, and landed near the top of the dead tree.

 

[PeterPS]

I just saw a crow fly backwards by launching into the wind from point a, and flapping slowly enough to drift backwards to point b, and landing there.

Habicht 8X30 W

It launched from the top of the leafed-out tree, and landed near the top of the dead tree.
View attachment 1592516

Crows are excellent flyers, and sometimes (like in your case) they fly for fun. They can even glide:

Btw, it seems there is quite a bit of CA in your photo, how come?

 

[Ignatius]

Storklings practising takeoff and landing.