It is a delight to be the spouse of a hard working, joy-filled, dedicated man.



Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Help! We Have A Mystery

After Anna reviewed the recommended identifications she, Bet and I agreir with the Merlin/Peregrin Falcon id. The difference between the two is there size and details about their face. So it was either one of these two, Anna is certain of it (she is the one who actually saw it. )

She saw a male, the female is more brown than the black or slate grey.
Thank you everyone for your help and for your humor, can't get through a day with out mirth thats for stinkin sure.

God Bless.

Anna saw this bird and Bet and I were not around to help her identify it or take a better picture, not that we could have it just is lovely to think so highly of our skills.


So I was wondering if any of you might be more familiar with birds so that just a glance at this fellow and you know instantly who he may be.




Here is the picture that Anna took, I have cropped it on my computer before placing it here. Look familiar?


From this distance it is obvious that it is no dinky bird but I am not sure it is Osprey size. I mention the Osprey only for a size comparison because we have a few here but this one doesn't match up; I don't think it is close to two feet in length; notice in the top picture that he has a white bar at the tip of his tail feathers.


He may be perched on a log but we are stumped and cannot find our better bird book at the moment. So what do you think?


His back looks rather bluish but that may be the lighting and such. Anna says it looked bluish black to her. His neck, chest and tail tip are white.



Here is Anna holding a foot long ruler. It is pretty close to how long he appeared to be.
Well I am off to town. Let me know what you think, no guess can be too silly (wait I take that back, it is not a blue bird of happiness or a swallow of Capistrano or a stork).
There could be cookies or cake in all this for you, your answer doesn't even have to be right we just need to like it!

16 comments:

deedee said...

I'm guessing a hungry bird looking for cookies?

KathyB. said...

Do you think he chased your Bald Eagles over to my place....they were cruisin' my air space looking at my teeny lambs, maybe it is a fearless mini-monster of a bird! Definitely a bird of prey!

LindaSue said...

Then it isn't my guess which was a purple martin - who lived too close to a nuclear power plant? sorry - I cannot identify the teeny little birds trying to build nests above my porch - we call them the persistent poopers.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

the only thing i can think of it's a squirrel in a costume???

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Anonymous said...

A poorly dressed bird with her "slip" showing!

Susie said...

Sorry I don't have a clue so I'll just say it's a "pretty" bird!

Sparky said...

My husband, who has studied birds since childhood, said it resembled a Merlin Falcon. I'm still learning but his is what he quoted to me:

This analysis was arrived at because the bird has a falcon silhouette, the bluish-slate grey of the back feathers, the light colored front and white tipped tail. The beak was not clearly visible in the photo but did appear hawk like. Also the pointed wings and upright stance are very falcon-like. ♥ ∞

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(bird)

A. Joy said...

I think Sparky might be on to the answer. That looks ALOT like the birds that dive and stalk our quail and sit perched on our quail pen post to terrorize them. I looked them up in our bird book and came up with the Peregrine Falcon. Okay, CT just brought me his book and yep - that looks like your picture! Book says it's the world's fastest bird!!!!

Ted M. Gossard said...

Quite interesting. Bird watching is wonderful, and actually a nice pic.

LindaSue said...

wow - the online bird identifier I went to said it was a Merlin and since I hadn't a clue what a Merlin was I dismissed the answer - how cool! WTG Sparky and your DH. (I did think Bee's answer to be very funny though - sneaky little squirrels!)

Karen said...

He is the Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder in Zippety Do Dah!

Ralph said...

Don't have a clue - but I'll take the cookies and cake.
Ralph

Kanani said...

Oh, you should ask the guy over at The Birder's Report blog. He knows everything! His blog is just great!

Marla said...

I have no idea on what kind of bird that would be! Not great at identifying birds, except for very common ones.

Sit A Spell said...

Could be a Falcon...do you have Cooper's hawks in your area?

Connie said...

Looks like you solved the mystery before I arrived, but that's a good thing because I haven't a clue. I would have guessed that it is a blue-backed log sitter. :D