Bird ID

Saw this awesome bird pounce on a coot and proceed to tear into it. The pic is not great. I looked all over and can't match it to anything. Any ideas?

Thats a peregrine falcon...sweet sighting!

Yep that's awesome Juan they nest in that peak across from the camp I see them up there but they never let you get that  close, nice shot.

The peregrine falcon, one of our nation's endangered species, is found at Lake Sonoma. Although sightings are infrequent, if you see a small, hawk-like bird with a steel-gray back, white front and black cap, you will have caught a glimpse of the falcon. Peregrines have faced extinction because the pesticide DDT builds up in their bodies. The DDT causes the birds to lay eggs with thin shells, which break before hatching, With nest manipulation, the peregrine falcons at Lake Sonoma have successfully fledged young birds back into the wild.

He looks fast just sitting there.

There are falcons in the Sunol regional wilderness too, I guess some were nesting on the cliff because they were harassing my son and I while we were hiking up there.  Flying around in circles over us and screeching.  Maybe I can dig up a photo tonight, but I think it was kind of blurry since the bird was flying fast at close range.  The nest must have been on the cliff face somewhere below us.

That spot is very popular with vultures too due to the updraft.

Edit, here's the pic. 

 Cool sighting!

Thats awesome. I knew it was a falcon theminute I saw the pic. Who says Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom was a dumb show?

Nice Peregrine sighting Juan!

P - the falcon in your picture is a Prairie Falcon. Key field mark is the dark wingpits when viewed from below. Peregrines do not have this field mark. Prairies are similar in size to peregrines.  Prairies are typically associated with drier habitats than peregrines.  Both peregrines and prairies nest in the Sunol/East Bay Parks area, but prairies are more common nesters in that region. Both nest primarily on natural cliffs but peregrines also commonly nest on "manmade cliffs" (e.g., Bay Bridge, GG Bridge, downtown SF buildings).

Take care.

Thanks for helping me out!
The pic does not do it justice. I mostly watched it with some good binoculars and was amazed at what an incredibly handsome bird it was. The feet and legs were such a bright yellow. Its' back reminded me of a GW gray coloring and how it flowed into the lighter sides and belly coloring. It was so alert to what was going on around it. When a far away noisy pb interrupted things it picked the coot up and flew away with it to a cliff! The pb never noticed it. Just like the coot.

Wow, that's cool. With there being so many coots around it must be a buyers market for peregrine falcons. Hopefully that means there will be more in the future.

Juan,
Sweet bird sighting of such an awe inspiring bird at that.

I used to work for an oyster grower in Humboldt Bay and used to deliver oyster seed up and down Mad River Slough in north Humboldt Bay.  I was fortunate to witness a couple of times peregrines swooping down on shore birds. Incredible!!

Thanks for the Tips John you need to put together a Bird IDing hook up so we can ID all the birds we see That Baldie Osprey battle we saw last year was Sooooooo Cooooooooool. I heard the osprey screaming for about 15 min the other day and it brought me back maybe the Baldie again.

Why do osprey drag their talons in the water?

About 8 years ago, I was lucky enough to see a peregrine falcon swoop down and attack a poor-wittle snowy plover at the beach in Seaside. It was incredible.
The thing swooped down towards the scurrying plovers and they took flight, but the falcon smacked right into one, sending it to the ground. In one move, it pounced on the plover and commenced to rip its guts out, tossing the guts over its shoulder, while staring us down. I wasn't sure what the heck it was but my bio professor was there with our group and he ID'd it as a peregrine. This all happened about 30 feet from us so we had front-row seats! I remember it vividly and haven't seen anything like it since. 

Mike and FM1 - I'd be up for a bird-ID hook-up. Sounds like fun.

Mike - don't know why osprey will do the foot-dragging.  My guess would be that it could be an aborted prey stoop where they stoop and then pull out at the last second and foot-drag on the water rather than close the deal with a full-on plunge.  I'll see if I can find any further info.

Really enjoy hearing the bird stories this post has generated. Those fleeting encounters with peregrines, eagles and other natural experiences can sear themselves into the soul for life!

Those fleeting encounters with peregrines, eagles and other natural experiences can sear themselves into the soul for life!

Well said, Bird - I'm seared.   

I'm digging this thread.  I've seen a couple of Bald Eagle vs Osprey battles in the past couple of years here in Humboldt - that's great stuff to witness.  I was shocked at how a Baldie makes an Osprey look so small!

Peregrines are very special critters - kinda like the super fabulous performance sport coupe of the raptor world.  I love their big black eyes and that silky creme breast color.   

it could be an aborted prey stoop where they stoop and then pull out at the last second and foot-drag on the water rather than close the deal with a full-on plunge

Sounds like a bad case of Blue-Feet!