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Falcons or kestrels(?) heck if I know but they are awesome flyers.

You don't even know they're around until you see this little black/brown rocket come smokin' past!

There is a certain cottonwood tree(out of thousands...) roughly 3/4 mile away from where we've been feeding and they've nested in it for several years in a row. Couple years ago I saw what appeared to be an adult or big chick sitting on the ground near the nesting tree. It didn't move and I walked right up to it. Not sure if it was injured or what so all I could do was just leave it alone.

About the size of a pop can.

Kestrels are small falconiformes. They hunt in very similar fashions.

If you want to be in awe of something hunting in the air, watch a goshawk.

a kestrel is just a small type of falcon

I think we have just about everything but Snowy Owls. There is a lot of stuff this area ain't, but if you wildlife, we have plenty of it.

Oh okay, thanks for the clarification, learned something today!

I have been up close and personal with a Great Horned Owl. Let me tell you, that was one bad dude!

Sam, I have come to appreciate anyone that can catch a bird in flight with a camera.

I know of a guy who was driving down a section line with the windows open and a hawk flew in the cab. Talk about oh chit!


Also heard a story about an old timer(pre-cab days) who was out on his tractor working a field and a hawk accidently dive bombed right into his back. Guess it scared the ever livin' chit outta him as well.

Sam if you(or anyone else in MT) havent run across this, its handy at times:

http://fieldguide.mt.gov/default.aspx

http://fieldguide.mt.gov/displayFamily.aspx?class=Aves

http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNKD06020

You name it we got it.

Richard, it is tough for sure, especially when you're bouncin' around in the pickup over a field of frozen cow turds!




Sheridan, thanks for the links, I'll have to check that out.

Man, ain't THAT the truth.

....and one never knows WHAT is going to blow in off the Pacific / Sea of Cortez, either.

GTC

I heard a story about an ole boy wearing a grey Stetson while hunting. A big Red Shouldred Hawk dived on him and took his hat. I'd have to let have drawers too.

I've a friend who lost a hat and some rather impressive streaks of scalp to a GHO some years back. It seems that chewing gum with a grey beard in the right light must look like a squirrel.

He shaved his head due to the scars, and the beard to avoid any more.

I bet he was cussin' when the hawk lifted his Stetson!



Little safer inside the cab, cheap entertainment.


Looking.....




Mouse!

Awesome. Well done.

We have redtails and a couple of other smaller hawks I have never totally identified. Ospreys, owls of a couple of varieties and the occasional wayward bald eagle.

You have red shouldered (they have a russet breast), broadwings during some seasons, Cooper's, sharp-shinned, and American kestrels.

One of the most awesome things I have ever witnessed was about 7-8 years ago. My buddy and I were out driving a rural gravel road when we stopped to take a leak.

Standing there when notice 2 bald eagles flying around about 4-500 yards away. Not an uncommon sight until they both flew way in the hell up in the air and pretty much locked talons(?) and spiraled down to the ground.

Spinning and twisting around until they got fairly close to the ground when they separated. They repeated this 2-3 times and of course we just stood along the road and took it all in.

It was late March or April when it took place and the only thing we could think of was they were mating.

Neither of us had ever seen anything like it. Pretty wild maneuvering.

yep Sam thats their courting display and usually happens in April....very cool you saw in person.....seen hundreds of bald eagles but have only seen that via video....