State Line Lookout, 10/4/15

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~A local Red-tailed Hawk flies in over the Hudson River at eye level. State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~

If it wasn’t for Kyle Dudgeon’s persistence, we would have missed a lot of good birds. We met up at 7:30 am and arrived around 8:15, just in time to catch one of the local Peregrine Falcons enjoying a meal at “the perch”. We had many good birds early on, including several Bald Eagles, but the lighting was pretty bad; all the early photos in this post have a stark white background. I haven’t shot hawks in flight for an extended period of time like this in a while and I definitely felt rusty. I was having a hard time keeping up with the birds (and camera settings!), particularly the Peregrines which move so fast it’s incredible. I managed to get some good shots, but really I felt like I could have done better; that many opportunities had slipped by. I guess that will motivate me for the next outing.

We were joined by Jill Homcy and then a little later on by Maria Loukeris. We all enjoyed a good mix of local raptors (Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and Osprey) and migrating raptors which were lead by Osprey (35), followed by a tie between two accipiters Sharp-shinned Hawks (28) and Cooper’s Hawks (28).  I felt like they must have been having a pretty good day for migration, I checked when I got home and according the Hawkcount.org, the total count for the day at State Line Lookout was 121 migrating raptors. It was a really enjoyable day for me, with good company and plenty of super birds to photograph.

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~A local Peregrine Falcon enjoys and early morning meal. State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~This was one of our first birds of the day – eye level Cooper’s Hawk at State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~An immature Cooper’s Hawk flies over, State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~This is not the clearest shot, but I love seeing the top of the bird like this. Sharp-shinned Hawk at State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~I’m not sure how folks will react to this photo, but it is one of my favorites from the day. A Cooper’s Hawk maneuvering overhead at State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~Red-tailed Hawk over the water, State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~Immature Bald Eagle flyover, State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~Not the best shots, but a cool interaction between and adult and an immature Peregrine Falcon. State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~This one is a few shots later – can’t believe the adult is totally upside down! Peregrine Falcons at State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~
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~We did not see many American Kestrels, this one whipped by getting blown around by the wind. State Line Lookout, 10/4/15.~

4 thoughts on “State Line Lookout, 10/4/15”

  1. Fantastic shots Matt! I can’t get over Peregrine Falcon interaction photos!

    Scotty

    1. Thanks Scotty, it was so cool to see them tangle like that. It happens so fast it’s hard to believe how much is happening at once! Matt

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