Iding Hawks at 50 mph....

[nctexasbirder]

anyone got any tips for watching hawks while driving?(as a passenger, of course :D ) usually i dont see the hawk very well and we usually pass it quickly... my bins are jiggling w/ the car, etc...

[birdpotter]

Ahh, yes, this has been addressed in some form or another on BF before.
I have a tendency to slow down a bit, get a general shape id, and then if I can, catch some distinguishing features. If you know the more common raptors in your area, you can narrow things down a bit. Here, I mainly see Red-tailed hawks. And then of course there are the Turkey Vultures. Occasionally, I see a Bald Eagle and that is always a pleasant surprise.
Unfortunately my driving id's end with, if it isn't one of the ones I am more used to seeing, "That definitely wasn't a Red-tailed Hawk(or Turkey Vulture)."
Not very helpful. But I do commiserate with you.

Best
Elzabeth

[Farnboro John]

anyone got any tips for watching hawks while driving?(as a passenger, of course :D ) usually i dont see the hawk very well and we usually pass it quickly... my bins are jiggling w/ the car, etc...


Rather think my old mother's advice on looking at views while fellwalking applies here: always STOP and look! Otherwise all that is left is the fading scream as you walk over the edge.....


John

[Merman]

Rather think my old mother's advice on looking at views while fellwalking applies here: always STOP and look! Otherwise all that is left is the fading scream as you walk over the edge.....


John

lol. I wander how many accidents have happened because of this. I must admit im guilty of straining to see birds sometimes while driving. Realistically you dont get time to stop because they'd be gone by the time you've stopped. Or sometimes its just not possible to stop depending on the type of road and traffic around you. It can be hard to ignore an interesting looking bird of prey when your driving.

[buckskin hawk]

If you are only driving at 50 MPH in Texas you might just get run over. Your roads are so much better than ours. Pulling off on the shoulder is always an option.

Red Tailed hawks are so numerous and varied in appearance that unless I can positively rule it out, I assume that it is a red tail.

[nctexasbirder]

yes but i always wonder if it could have been a red-shouldered, esp. if some woods are nearby, or a Broad-winged for that matter, and we cannot rule out Swainson's ;) i saw one at a busy intersection one time! an incredible adult...also kestrals and accipiters can give you a double take sometimes

in conclusion, watching hawks with a nonbirder as the driver is utterly frustrating...on good view out of a hundred :-C

[Lee Sollenberger]

anyone got any tips for watching hawks while driving?(as a passenger, of course :D ) usually i dont see the hawk very well and we usually pass it quickly... my bins are jiggling w/ the car, etc...Hello to the great state of Texas..I years ago trapped and banded Peregrine Falcons on Padre Island during the migration..Looking for BOP's while driving can be hard, but heres a few tips.

On highways with power poles look down the pole line..hawks eagles & other BOP's will use them for places to hunt from..

if you know what birds frequent the area and what species live there, look for them on hunting perches: Cottonwood trees, fence posts, low brush piles etc.

In wooded area, accipiters will be hidden on the outskirts of open areas looking and waiting for prey..they are stalkers

High advantage points are for Buteos (Red Tails, Harris Hawks, Black Hawks and Falcons if you have any Prairie Falcons around..they will be on poles

hawks soar in morning and on warm days to catch termals..look for buteos than in the am..

being in Chapperal country you will have lots of buteos to look for, Harris Hawks hang out in groups and are often close to the road..


Hope this helps as I am always looking for hawks,,I live in Northern Canada where we have alot of species to choose from..Goshawks,Peregrines Prairie Falcons, Gyrs all kinds of Red Tails (Harlans) Bald & Golden Eagles good luck

Happy Hawking

Lee Sollenberger ( falconer,bird trainer, raptor studies)

[birdpotter]

in conclusion, watching hawks with a nonbirder as the driver is utterly frustrating...

Amen to that! nonbirder drivers just don't get it, when you say, "oo oo wait slow down what was that?", they look at you like you're crazy and then you miss the bird all together trying to shield all those evil glances from the driver.

[buckskin hawk]

A book was recommended to me from someone on this site and I have really gotten a lot of use out of it. It is titled "Hawks in Flight". If I remember when I get home, I look up the author. The pictures are very good and the id tips are well worth the small outlay for this small book.