ML646024587

Observation details

(33.6575563, -117.7923042) I first discovered the Prairie Falcon (I was using my KOWA scope) sitting on top of the rocks of the “red rock hills” due west of these coordinates. Martin and Drew also got excellent views using my scope. Unfortunately it flew off before I could get closer for clear photos. We were still fairly distant and there was heat shimmer. There was a lot more white in face and around the eye including a whitish “supercilium” (this was noticed while observing in scope) than a Peregrine Falcon. It also had much more slender “mustache” than a Peregrine Falcon. The crown was also paler than a Peregrine. The Prairie was a medium gray-brown above (lighter than a Peregrine Falcon) with a creamy-white chest and belly with heavy spotting. The Prairie had prominent fluffy light color under-tail coverts. The wingtips did not reach the pale gray-brown tail tips like a Peregrine does (which also has a darker tail). Martin and Drew also saw it fly and saw the black coverts and axillaries to clench the identification! Yay! Thank you Jasmine Kay for the amazing discovery this morning.