ML619461366

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***MEGA. Just after 10am. While watching over the right side of the lodge for a flock of blue jays to come out from behind the trees, DB spotted a slow flapping bird with long tail coming straight at us into the wind. Others got on it and at first we weren’t sure if it was just the nesting Cooper’s Hawk carrying something or…? Finally it flared up revealing the white wing patches and Brad C. was the first to yell out magpie! We followed it as it went west along the lake shore and landed out of sight on the barrier island. A few minutes later Mike T. spotted it flying near the West Spit and we watched it fly across and land in the top of the eagle tree. It then moved to another nearby tree then gave a long flight towards Burger Park where we lost it behind the trees. Kim S. was also present for the initial sighting and Kent M. missed the initial flight but made it to the platform in time to see it perch. Great scope looks at it flying. Lifer for DB, KS, and MT. Mike G spotted the bird again just before 3pm and other observers including Cliff D. and Pat M. got it. We had great scope views as it perched near the parkway for a few minutes. It was last seen heading behind the trees on the other side of the parkway towards the end of Hogan Point Rd. but was not found again in the next several hours despite many searchers. Reportedly the last Monroe County record was in 1949.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

800

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

103 pixels x 69 pixels

Original file size

18.96 KB