Photo Opportunities Where You Least Expect Them
Sometimes a photo op presents itself when you least expect it.
Dawn and I had just finished a jog a couple weekends ago and were driving home when we came upon a couple walking with an owl and a falcon! You don’t see that every day! To make a long story short, the couple was helping the Folsom Moose Lodge with a membership drive and invited us over to photograph their birds! Didn’t have to ask me twice! (Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge)
Lanner Falcon
The Lanner Falcon is a native of all of Africa and the southern parts of Italy, Sicily, Greece and Asia Minor. It is essentially a bird of mountainous terrain except in Africa, where it can also be found in savannahs, plains and deserts. A fast-flying raptor, it is well designed for catching birds up to the size of a Guinea Fowl, and bats, especially the larger fruit bats. When prey of this kind is scarce, ground living mammals and lizards are taken. It will also gorge on locusts and flying termites when they are swarming.
Much, but not all of the Lanner Falcon’s prey is taken in the air, when the falcon descends to its prey and binds to it with a smack which can be heard for some distance. It then carries it off. Occasionally, it will strike its prey in the air and allow it to drop to the ground and collect it there, but this is less frequent behavior. When defending its nesting territory, it will often swoop with tremendous force at an animal it cannot hope to kill, which seems, nonetheless, an effective deterrent.
The Lanner Falcon has a shrill, piercing, almost screaming voice, similar in content to that of the Peregrine Falcon, but somewhat higher pitched.
Tomorrow: Eurasian Eagle Owl
Doug
10 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (10)
Wonderful pictures of the falcon, Doug! You certainly have "the eye"! I always enjoy your photos when you display them on the site. Photo art!
That is a pretty rare bird in the states as is the one you are featuring tomorrow. Who was the couple with them and how did they come to have them?
Yes, Jason, they are quite rare here. I had all the owners' info carefully written on a piece of paper which (wouldn't you know it) I can't seem to find. I may have to contact the Moose Lodge and see if they can direct me to the birds' owners. I'd at least like to give them copies of the photos and a mention on the site! They were especially friendly and gave me lots of time and info.
Doug
Wow!! Beautiful bird!! Hard to imagine he eats other critters. Terrific photos, too! Shows the importance of being in the right place at the right time (and having your camera with you!)
VERY nice!! Great captures of a beautiful bird!! Looking forward to tomorrow's owl!!
Nice photos! Question: Is his wing hurt? He seems to be holding it out in the last picture.
That first image, the one with the black background, is one to frame!!! Do you ever sell them?
Amazing photos! Thanks!
Tina: No, his wing is fine. He was just "adjusting himself" when I pulled the trigger.
Hookercrook: I'm flattered! I am not selling images (except mags) at this time, most;y because I lack a good photo printer and labs seem too expensive to keep the price of the image within reason. When I eventually get a suitable printer, I'll post an announcement or something to let folks know.
Doug
Beautiful bird! How lucky you were to come upon the people walking! That must have been an attention getter!