Post your Bird Portraits (2)

Eagle on Pier Post

I'd appreciate it if someone could ID this little guy. Pacific North West, Whidbey Island.

WhidbeyHiker wrote in post #19355192
I'd appreciate it if someone could ID this little guy. Pacific North West, Whidbey Island.

Hosted photo: posted by WhidbeyHiker in
./showthread.php?p=193​55192&i=i149339982
forum: Birds

Looks like a Spotted towhee to me.

WhidbeyHiker wrote in post #19355192
I'd appreciate it if someone could ID this little guy. Pacific North West, Whidbey Island.

Hosted photo: posted by WhidbeyHiker in
./showthread.php?p=193​55192&i=i149339982
forum: Birds

here on the south coast, they're called Spotted Towhee.

....

male downy woodpecker

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n8s​L3b

sidknee wrote in post #19355216

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n8q​w8K DSC09316-22-03-02-15-33-34 by Sid Simmons, on Flickr

common buzzard

beautiful work
love the mood of the raindrops
excellent point of view and pose

A Demure Cormorant

Bill in Texas wrote in post #19354997

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2n8f​vQX Sharp-shinned hawk by Bill_in_Texas, on Flickr

Outstanding portrait shot, Bill! Compared to Cooper's hawks, I see very few sharp-shinned hawks.

When I was a freshman in high school, back in 1960, I found a sharp-shinned hawk in the foothills, with a broken wing. I was able to capture it with my jacked and, take it home. I attempted to set it's wing using freezer tape and a tiny bit of glue. I didn't really know what I was doing, but luckily the wing did heal itself. It looked a little odd, but eventually ,this little guy was able to fly quite well. The most difficult part was getting the hawk to eat. When it finally accepted me, I began training the hawk to fly to me for food. In time, and with the help of an ornithology teacher and falconer, I was able to take this little hawk out hunting. It was my introduction into falconry, and I spent many hours flying and hunting this bird. For me, it was always a pleasure to see him fly and pursue prey. I watched it become more and more successful at capturing game. Four years later, when I was about to enter college, I decided to release, and totally free this hawk at our house, because I knew I'd no longer have the time necessary to continue exercising and training him. I put food, mostly mice and beef heart, out daily so that this bird could gradually become accustomed to living free. I was surprised how quickly I no longer had to set food out for him. The transition was much faster than I anticipated. My parents and I would see him from time to time, and he actually hung around for a numbers of years. I could recognize him immediately by his slight offset wing. This guy was definitely a survivor and a joy to behold.