Outstandingly maneuverable, Lanner Falcons use their large tails and relatively low wing loading to perform exceptionally to the lure and can take a range of small birds as prey. The piercing eyes of a Lanner Falcon at the Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Lanner Falcon
The Lanner Falcon is a large bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and Asia and is a bird of open country and savanna. Males and females look alike, but the browner young birds resemble Saker Falcons even more. However, Sakers have a lighter top of the head and less clear head-side patterns. Here is a male Lanner Falcon in captivity at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Broad-winged Hawk
A small, stocky raptor with black-and-white bands on the tail, the Broad-winged Hawk is a bird of the forest interior and can be hard to see during the nesting season. Its call is a piercing, two-parted whistle. Here is a captive male at the Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina.
Singing After Eating
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America, weighing 3-6 ounces. American Kestrels are one of only three raptor species in North America where males and females look very different from each other. Males have blue-hued wings and one black bar on their orange tail feathers; females have orange wings with black stripes and many black bars on their orange tail feathers.
Here is a female kestrel at Carolina Raptor Center.
Barn Owl with Unusual Pose
Barn Owl
With its ghostly appearance, rasping shrieks, and habit of roosting in such places as church belfries, the Barn Owl has attracted much superstition. However, it is really a good omen for farmers who find it in their barns, for it preys chiefly on mice and rats.
A female version on display at Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina.
A Barred Owl Portrait
The Barred Owl is a nocturnal bird. It hides in dense foliage during the day, usually high up. May also roost on a branch close to a broad tree-trunk, or in a natural tree hole. May be very aggressive when defending a nest. Here is female version – perched at Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina.
Female Barred Owl
The barred owl, also known as the northern barred owl, striped owl or, more informally, hoot owl, is a North American large species of owl. Here is a female barred owl at Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina. Females are normally larger and heavier than males.
Birds at Carolina Raptor Center
Carolina Raptor Center (Huntersville, North Carolina) is a living museum, dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. It is home to over 25 species of native and exotic raptors — hawks, falcons, eagles, merlins, kites and vultures.
Although in captivity, we got an opportunity to photograph some birds in their natural setting. Will be posting individual images of these magnificent birds over the next few weeks.
Brilliant Colors in the Sky
Spectacular Post-Sunset Sky
Watching a Sunset
Sunset Crowd
Capturing a Person at Sunset
Aptly Named
Day and Night at Sunset Beach
Triple Witching Moment
Passing Under the Bridge
Swings to View the Intracoastal
The Intracoastal Waterway runs all the way from Winyah Bay to Cape Fear River but really the Intracoastal Waterways run all up and down the East Coast. This 3,000 mile inland waterway consists of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, sounds and canals. In Sunset Beach, the Intracoastal waterway splits the town in half. A nice park allows a peaceful view of the waterway.