"Higheagle" Originally taken in DEC 2013, Young golden eagle 

                                     CALIFORNIA WINTERTIME RAPTORS MARCH 2024

               A collection of mostly recent, and some re-edited past experiences with some of my favorite raptors seen during wintertime in the Bay Area. Including some thoughts of some of these species in the individual texts beneath photographs. Inspired from recent viewing of golden eagles in the Bay Area. As  mentioned in the past, they are very special to me. To view them in the wild is still as incredible to me today as it was the first time, admittedly about fifty years ago. The dark humor angle of this, is how difficult it is to properly relate a golden eagle in a photograph because of the dark adult color. The golden eagle has other attributes which highlight the mystery about this magnificent bird making it easy to understand the relationship with early Native American cultures. One could argue the bald eagle is just as important in American culture and stature. I agree, yet in photography, the adult bald eagle shows better from a distance and in my opinion is easier to locate generally because its lifestyle associated with water. The Goldens are a spread-out badland eagle who prefers to stay away from human populations, and is tough to identify by most people from considerable distances.   

                                          

Recent dark day ferruginous hawk. While observing this hawk he fluttered away a few times kiting in the air near this perch looking below for ground squirrels, then re-landing in same area. I believe I have photographed this bird and its mate several times in the past three years. CC County 

Male Northern Harrier photographed spring of 2018 Alameda County. Northern Harriers get active in early spring, though keep a decent distance from most people. While males may get frisky gaining a female's interest in breeding season, this may be one of the better times to get semi- close. Females may have more than one male mate, unlike most other raptors...

Recent female Northern Harrier, and happy to relate I've seen many this year both in Eastern CC County and Southern CC County near C. Tassajara area. I have also noticed females hunting together prior to breeding season.

Recent young golden eagle eastern CC County. This bird along with ferruginous hawk shown above pictured with eye protective lens cover caught...

Recent Dark Morph red tail hawk in South CC County...

Recent early nest activity for this red tailed hawk in Knightsen  Eastern CC County

Re-edited March 2019 Red shouldered hawk in flight, this in Oakley CA good view to assist in easy R shoulder sightings... 

Recent young golden eagle in flight eastern CC County.

Re edited rough legged hawk for 2021 winter, same hawk as shown in 21, different photograph. I have not seen as many rough legged hawks in recent years as I did prior to drought times around ten years ago in CC County and Alameda County. I still look though...

Winter 2018 Ferruginous hawk California Delta area. Re-edit. It was severe wind day...

White tailed kite adult re-edited. I have viewed white tails in Oakley for several years now and I can say they are working on a nest and still very active today. Roosts in fall each year number from 15 to 20 birds. They do well here, and can go get a field mouse and return consistently in about 20 minutes remarkably when feeding young. They have also fledged as many as five youngsters in one season. Usually two to three. Mice and gophers are their usual meals. 


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