ML79037151
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
At 0930, near State and Dakota, a large flock of ca 35 HOFI took off from where perched near a residential yard and flew east. Shortly thereafter, a fairly large raptor flew in from the west at treetop height. My first impression was that it was about the size of a PEFA with a black cap on the head and wings bent back at the elbow, falcon-like. However, the wingtips were rounded, not pointy. Besides the contrasting black cap, I noted a somewhat rounded tail tip and pale whitish color on the body ventrally. Secondaries were fairly broad and bulging. Wingbeats were not quick and snappy like MERL or SSHA; seemed fairly powerful and rather fluid though, not stiff and arthritic as is described for COHA. Compared to a MERL in typical low pursuit flight, wingbeats were much slower and lazier. Attempted photos as soon as I realized what it was. It headed SE with continuous wingbeats towards a pine-covered hill E of Mt Ave, then set its wings when close to the pines near the top of the hilltop, at which point I lost sight of it amid juggling the camera.
Technical information
- Model
- COOLPIX P900
- ISO
- 100
- Focal length
- 321 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/6.3
- Shutter speed
- 1/1250 sec
- Dimensions
- 1741 pixels x 1307 pixels
- Original file size
- 194.61 KB