Bay Photos by Donna

.

My last post ended with me on Cloud 9 from experiencing an awesome photo session with two Reddish Egrets, with the hint of another incredible opportunity of another bird I’ve been looking for, a falcon called a Crested Caracara.  (I last photographed it in 2016.)

.

And so, there I was, driving back from the grocery store, when I see perched up in a tree alongside the highway, a pair of Crest Caracaras.

.

Crested Caracaras

.

OMGosh!  I  had to drive a little further to make a U-turn and went back to them.

.

Crested Caracaras

.

This tropical-looking falcon primarily lives in Central and South America, but some are now residing year-round in southern areas of Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

.

Crested Caracara

.

Crested Caracara

.

The falcons were watching me and suddenly both swooped down to the side of the road in front of me.

.

Crested Caracara with some type of road-kill

.

These falcons act similar to a vulture in having an appetite for carrion.  I have a feeling they were watching that road-kill from the tree, then I showed up and threatened them on losing it.  (yuk, not me!)  They flew down and took off with it, the first one with the piece in its mouth, followed by the second carrying the rest of what looks like a dead snake.

.

Crested Carcara carrying off what looks like a dead snake

.

First the Reddish Egrets, and then the Crested Caracaras!  Oh yeah, that Cloud 9 lasted the rest of the day…..

.

.