Lynch Canyon Raptor Hike Oct 22nd Saturday 10am to 1:30pm

 

https://solanolandtrust.org/events/birds-of-prey

Bird of Prey season is back!

Join Larry Broderick for the 2022 - 2023 season at Lynch Canyon and Rush Ranch!

Each year from fall through late winter, raptor expert Larry Broderick of West County Hawkwatch leads weekend hikes and workshops so people can learn about the birds of prey that call the Solano Land Trust properties their home. 

During this viewing season, bring your binoculars and join a group to see the magnificent bids that rely on our protected agricultural open spaces for habitat. Birders of all levels of experience are welcome.

Dedicated to Ken Poerner

By request, Larry Broderick would like to dedicate this year’s Bird of Prey season in honor of our dear friend Ken Poerner, whose tireless dedication to conservation touched every aspect of Solano Land Trust’s work.  Ken passed in early June of this year after a ten-year battle with cancer.  It was Ken who first introduced the Solano Land Trust to Larry, and Larry’s expertise and passion have been an invaluable asset to the land trust and the community we serve for many years.

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Upcoming Hike Dates:

Registration for hikes are required.  Please click the links of the dates below to register.

The hike fee is $10 per person. 

Parking at Lynch Canyon is $8.00 during peak season (April – September) and $6.00 during the off season (October – March)

Saturday, October 1st. - Lynch Canyon

Saturday, October 22nd. - Lynch Canyon

Sunday, November 27th. - Lynch Canyon

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For a complete schedule of West County Hawkwatch events, visit the group’s website at: westcountyhawkwatch.com or its Facebook page.  Or you can email Larry directly at northcoastraptor@gmail.com 

*Photo credit: Pamela Hawken (Pamelarosehawkenphotography.com)

For more information: contact di@solanolandtrust.org or call 707-420-1041

12-18-2021 Lynch Canyon Raptor tour 10am 2pm

12-18-2021 Lynch Canyon Raptor tour, tomorrow! 10am 2pm 

https://www.meetup.com/Solano-Land-Trust-Outdoor-Adventures-Meetup/events/282478472/ 

Details: Bird of Prey season is back!

Join Larry Broderick for the 2021- 2022 season at Lynch Canyon and Rush Ranch!

Each year from fall through late winter, raptor expert Larry Broderick of West County Hawkwatch leads weekend hikes and workshops so people can learn about the birds of prey that call the Solano Land Trust properties their home.

During this viewing season, bring your binoculars and join a group to see the magnificent bids that rely on our protected agricultural open spaces for habitat. Birders of all levels of experience are welcome.

Dedicated to Ken Poerner:

By request, Larry Broderick would like to dedicate this year’s Bird of Prey season in honor of our dear friend Ken Poerner, whose tireless dedication to conservation touched every aspect of Solano Land Trust’s work. Ken passed in early June of this year after a ten-year battle with cancer. It was Ken who first introduced the Solano Land Trust to Larry, and Larry’s expertise and passion have been an invaluable asset to the land trust and the community we serve for many years.

Upcoming Hike Dates:

Registration for hikes are required.
December 18 registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=k4v5ckmab&oeidk=a07eiklwl9hc61d0b68

Please visit https://solanolandtrust.org/events/birds-of-prey to register for future dates

The hike fee is $10 per person.
Parking at Lynch Canyon is $6.00 during the off season (October – March)

Dec 18th [Saturday] Solano Land Trust Lynch Canyon
Jan 15th [Saturday] Solano Land Trust Lynch Canyon
Feb 12th [Saturday] Solano Land trust Lynch Canyon

March (TBD)

For a complete schedule of West County Hawkwatch events, visit the group’s website at: westcountyhawkwatch.com or its Facebook page. Or you can email Larry directly at northcoastraptor@gmail.com


For more information: contact di@solanolandtrust.org or call 707-420-1041

Follow up on Lynch Canyon Open Space 11-21-20 Birds of Prey tour.... Wow!

To all those who came out:

What a Great trip, lots of Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, a great look at and Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, a few White-tailed Kites, four Golden Eagles, three burrowing Owls 

And a great group of folks, lots of thanks to Tom, Susana. Shelly, Pam for Co-leading and helping folks see the raptors and helping them learn what hey were seeing, truly a great team effort.

(all photos copyright to original photographers/organizations, use here for non profit and educational purposes only, most photos here shown from WCHW photo pool and not of actual birds from the day, rather just references to help those learning, what we saw and how to tell what they are)

lots of Read-tailed Hawks both Juvenile and Adult birds (photos and info below) 

Adult Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo form (large soaring hawk) overall brown and tan wth brick red tail, tan feathers on back form a "V" known as Scapular V.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk 

Juvenile Red-tailed hawk, dark hood, dark belly band, dark patagials (leading edge of wing near body) Also here you can see where the tail differs for an adult. over all light brown aka tan, with fine brown or dark bars on that tail, easy to tell Juvenile from Adult Red-tailed Hawk because of the tail baring.  

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, great view of tail markings, to compare to an Adult bird, also note the Scapular V seen on both adult and juveniles.

Juvenile Red-tailed hawk, dark patagials, dark hood, strong belly band, finely barred tail, buteo form.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk, dark hood, dark patagials, brick red tail, faint belly band, buteo form.

RTHA (red-tailed hawk) slide 

(below) Right as the tour began we saw some movement of sparrows and western blue birds off to the east of us, we stopped and waited to see what it was that was flushing them, and a few seconds later saw a bright orange Sharp-shined Hawk (Adult) flying over our heads, much like in the photo below showed the orange barring in the chest and belly, the dark nape and the sooty black bars on the grey tail.

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Genius Accipiter (small woodland Hawk)

Sharp-shinned hawk in a glide showing its squared off tail, dark nape on the neck, red eye and head barely extend past the wrists, making it look "wristy" 

Here a Coopers Hawk on the left and the Sharp-shinned Hawk on the right, showing the difference in head location. Coopers forms a "cross' and Sharp-shinned forma capital "T" also notice SSHA has a nice squared off tail and a COHA has a somewhat rounded tail effect. 

(often Coops and Sharps are confused in the ID process) 

Sharp-shinned Hawk = SSHA, Coopers Hawk = COHA 

Here a younger SSHA shows a nice squared off tail, and the full on "wristy" look in a glide. 

 

Lots of Harriers seen, Female, Male and Juvenile...(photos and info below) 

Northern Harrier slide 

Adult Female, tan and brown, yellow eye, owl like facial disk, wings held at a V, aka swallow Dihedral, long tail, pointy wings.... Adult Female Northern Harrier.  

Adult Male, yellow eye, owl like facial disk, wings held at a slight V, aka swallow Dihedral, long tail, pointy wings, dorsal view presents a white rump patch, bird is grey on top and white-ish underneath, with black wing tips and linings .... Adult Male Northern Harrier.  

Young birds have a cinnamon, aka pumpkin wash to them.. over all a orange-ish underside on body and underwing linings, with very unique with barring "checker board" type patterns.

Young bird, dark eye, cinnamon wash, good dihedral and owl like facial disk 

(Above) Adult Male, Grey, off white, black, wings at a dihedral, yellow eye. 

(Photos below) of White-tailed Kite.... first seen at the parking lot, then again another along the trial and two more seen at the reservoir..  

White-tailed Kite, overall white, with gray wings and back with black shoulders and namesake white tail. True Kite form but also the long tail and pointy wings, somewhat similar to a "falcon" form. 

Hovers over open areas in search of mice, snakes, and other prey.

Perches atop tall vegetation in open landscapes including coastal plains and agricultural areas. Much like we saw the two perched in the tree at the marsh.

Burrowing Owls, [below] very lucky to see three burrowing owls along west of the reservoir, lots of movement and a few flights, at least three different birds in different areas but one general region, very exciting. Spent a lot of time making sure each guest had a chance to view one...  

true to its name in a burrow.

a few of the views we had were like this, but at great distance 

Here we see a Golden Eagle looking into a burrow, we did not see this but this type of activity plays out daily in the Lynch Canyon Open Space.

 

Always on the look out, from the safety of their burrows.

Golden Eagle, (below) great looks at Golden Eagles all day, 6 sightings though-out the day, with at least 3 confirmed individuals, possibly 4. 

Sub adult above, based on white tail base, and some white still at the base of the primaries (feathers near the tips of the wings) 

Adult Golden Eagle at Lynch Canyon from previous trip

Golden Eagle on our logo 

Adult Golden Eagle (above)

Young Golden Eagle (above)

Juvenile Golden Eagle  (above)

Tail of adult on the left and sub adult on the right

Gold Eagle left to right, Juvenile, Sub-adult, Adult. (Above)

Please check out Facebook page, like and if possible recommend us based on your days experience: on Facebook  www.facebook.com/WestCountyHawkWatch

Check the website for upcoming events: official Web page www.westcountyhawkwatch.com 

And here on this page we post reports from past events, like the event we had at described above: on Google Blogger  http://westcountyhawkwatch.blogspot.com 

thanks for coming out, it was a fun day, Larry Broderick 

Lynch Canyon 11-1-2020 _ Lynch Canyon Open Space Raptor Tour _ [West County Hawkwatch]

follow up on Lynch Canyon

Lynch Canyon 11-1-2020  _ Lynch Canyon Open Space Raptor Tour _  [West County Hawkwatch]

(all photos copyright to original photographers, use here for non profit and educational purposes only, photos here shown from WCHW photo pool and not of actual birds from the day, rather just references to help those learning, what we saw and how to tell what they are)

Lots of Red-tailed Hawks, most adult a few juvenile.

below is some Red-tailed Hawk photos, details under photos 

   Adult Red-tailed Hawk, dark hood, dark leading edge of wing, brick red tail, buteo form. 

(above) Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, bird has two tone brown and tan look, note barred tail  

Adult bird, good belly band, dark leading edge on wing, dark hood, brick red tail 

 

 

Juvenile bird, barred tail, with good belly band, dark hood, and dark leading edge on wing (patagial)

Adult bird, good belly band, dark leading edge on wing (patagial), dark hood, brick red tail

 

 

Adult bird, faint belly band, dark leading edge on wing, dark hood, brick red tail 

 

 Photo on right shows "scapular 'V' " the pattern of tan fathers on the birds middle to upper back 

^ Above Red-tailed Hawk details on age and morphs...

Different age and morphs of red-tailed hawks (above)

 We also saw quite a few American Kestrels[below]

 

 

American Kestrel, [male from female difference] Male on left, female on right 

 American Kestrels, male on left, female on right 

 American Kestrels, Female on left, Male on right 

American Kestrel Range amp above ^

We also saw lots of Harriers. (Northern Harrier)

[Male] below

 Male Northern Harrier 

 

 

         Female Northern Harrier 

 

 

                             range map Northern Harrier  

                                          Age and male/female Northern Harrier 

 

We had some views of a Burrowing Owl, lucky to get both in flight views and a perch view.  

      

 

  Golden Eagle hunting Burrowing Owl (just a visual to show the protection to burrows offer)

Good chance some of the burrows we had passed had owls or badgers in them 
Above photos Burrowing Owls, true to their form they love burrows.....  

 

All day long we had Turkey Vultures  

wings held at a dihedral or swallow V and primary feathers at the tips of the wings "fingered out" and small non bird of prey like head, more of a scavenger head.... 

We also had good looks at Golden Eagles, 2 adults and a juvenile

Adult Golden Eagle above

Sub adult Golden Eagles (above, notice white base of tail)

Hey! look whos on the WCHW logo! (Adult Golden Eagle)

So on the drawing above we have Golden Eagles right is adult, middle is sub adult and left is juvenile, aka first year bird.

We also saw White-tailed Kites. 

 ... and to finish out the day we had a Sharp-shinned Hawk. (Below) small woodland hawk, in the accipiter group, short winged, head doesn't get to far past wrists, usually shows a squared off tail. 

Book we mentioned that goes into detail on all these above raptors and highly recommend for the next step in Raptor ID if you are going to take it 

Its got three different covers here are the two most popular covers.

Please check out Facebook page, like and if possible recommend us based on your days experience: on Facebook  www.facebook.com/WestCountyHawkWatch

Check the website for upcoming events: official Web page www.westcountyhawkwatch.com 

And here on this page we post reports from past events, like the event we had at described above: on Google Blogger  http://westcountyhawkwatch.blogspot.com 

thanks for coming out, it was a fun day, Larry Broderick