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Prairie Falcon in SC




>Please forward to Carolina Birds:
>
>At 1:25 pm today (Saturday, Jan. 13), while doing the midwinter eagle survey
>at the Edisto unit of the ACE Basin NWR, Mike Aldenderfer & I watched an
>adult male Prairie Falcon fly over at about 100 feet. On approach, this bird
>was noticeably far paler than any Peregrine (above and below, and especially
>its non-hooded head), and looked positively incandescent against today's
>cloudless blue sky. Its very long, thin "sideburns" did not resemble a
>Peregrine's hood in either shape or their "desert pale" color. The axillars
>clearly showed elongated pear-shaped markings that were the darkest color on
>this falcon. The dark suffused out slightly onto the underwing coverts. The
>tail was barred with numerous fine pale bars and white bars of the same
>width. The belly was white and marked with very fine dark spots.
>
>The falcon was the size of a male Peregrine in length and wingspan, but
>noticeably slimmer in the body, and in the width of the wing (from leading
>to trailing edge). In body position, it was in a loose glide: just slightly
>more angular than a soaring position, so we were able to get good looks
>before it passed into the distance.
>
>The Prairie Falcon was flying directly southwest, so was headed towards Bear
>Island. I hope that others are able to observe this exciting bird. It was
>something to see! I will be writing it up to submit to the state Rare Birds
>Committee.
>
>Sharon Brown
>Adams Run, SC
>slbrown3@mindspring.com
>
>
Donna Bailey
Winnsboro, SC
e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
     "Where are the Birds?  Migration across South Carolina"