[SBB] Raptors in Half Moon Bay

["Garrett Lau" <[[email protected]]>]

This is out of area, but since Mike asked on this list, and Chuq
posted more about it today, here are my findings from being there most
of the day today (Saturday, October 6) and for 2 hours last Saturday
afternoon.

In the morning there were more White-tailed Kites than I cared to
count, many more than in the afternoon, but that may be because I
walked further south in the morning (all the way to Wavecrest). There
were also more Red-shouldered Hawks than in the afternoon. There were
a handful of Red-tailed Hawks, but they did not start to kite above
the beach until 11:30am.

Last Saturday, there were sometimes five kiting at the same time, and
almost always at least one kiting at any given minute between 2:00pm
and 3:45pm. There was even one that stayed at eye level for several
minutes. I didn't see that much kiting today, either because the wind
wasn't as strong, or because I wasn't there at the same time as last
week (or both).

The hawk that was kiting at eye level last week chose to hunt from
posts along the trail today. I saw it catch two voles. I know it's the
same hawk because of the leg band. I can almost read the band in my
photos. I haven't sorted through my photos from today, but I've posted
my photos from last week here:

http://www.pbase.com/garrettlau/recentbirds

BTW, other posts have been calling it the field at Filbert Street, but
the parking lot is actually on Poplar Street, as Chuq mentioned. It is
Bluff Top Coastal Park.

Garrett Lau



On 10/1/07, Mike Armer <[[email protected]]> wrote:
> I finally made it out to Half Moon Bay to see the smorgasbord in action
> yesterday afternoon. The White-tailed Kites were there in full force, along
> with at least 3 Northern Harriers. Only saw a few Red-tailed Hawks, one
> American Kestrel and one Cooper's Hawk.
>
> Most notable (in my book) was a young Red-shouldered Hawk that attacked a
> White-tailed Kite. The kite was perched on a low bush (with prey, I
> believe). The Red-shoulder came in low from behind the kite, knocked it to
> the ground, and shortly thereafter they both flew off. It was amazing to
> watch! The photo sequence I captured isn't in great focus, but it's clear
> enough to see what's going on:
> http://aworldofbirds.com/thumbnails.php?album=100
>
> Other photos from the day:
> http://aworldofbirds.com/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=0
>
> Has anyone been out there in the morning? I'm curious to know if there are
> as many birds at other times of day.
>
> Mike Armer
> Mountain View
>
>
>
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