A Pair of Crested Caracaras
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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.)
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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.
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Crested Caracaras
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OMGosh! I had to drive a little further to make a U-turn and went back to them.
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Crested Caracaras
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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.
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Crested Caracara
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Crested Caracara
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The falcons were watching me and suddenly both swooped down to the side of the road in front of me.
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Crested Caracara with some type of road-kill
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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.
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Crested Carcara carrying off what looks like a dead snake
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First the Reddish Egrets, and then the Crested Caracaras! Oh yeah, that Cloud 9 lasted the rest of the day…..
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Photos by Donna 
being at the right place at the right time cannot be overly stated
Great shots Donna and congratulations!
Thank you, Wayne! You know first hand about that RPRT, it’s what we live for! 😃
I just emailed a friend who has employees working down the inlet. I told him If they spot any Orcas to give me a call!!
Orca’s are what gets my blood pumping! Travelling with a pod for hours is just something that cannot be explained.
I’d be on board for that too! We’ve run with dolphins and that in itself was a thrill, I cannot imagine how high my adrenaline would be cruising with a pod of Orcas for ours. WOW! I’m hoping you get the call and we get to see the photos!!
Nice Donna! Great images. I have never had the opportunity to photograph crested caracaras. Enjoyed seeing them!
Thank you, Reed! These an hour after the Reddish Egrets had me floating the rest of the day. 🙂 I’ve seen them down here before and twice up just north of Lake Okeechobee around Taylor WMA.
How wonderful Donna, lifers one after the other. These raptors are beautiful creatures, and you captured them so well. What a treasury of photos you are composing my friend 🙂
Thank you, Ashley! Sorry to say I didn’t increase my lifer count with the Caracara, I have already photographed them back in 2016. But I’ve known they were down here where I’m at now and have been hoping and watching for one. Getting two Caracaras was such a bonus! 🙂
Wow, the gods were smiling on you this day! These looked in great health (guess there is enough roadkill around, eh?). 😉 Don’t they look like they are wearing cheap toupees?
Thank you, Eliza, I’m still in disbelief of that morning. 🙂 Yes, I see cheap toupees now! 😅
What a great sighting, Donna. They are cool looking birds. And you managed to get some excellent shots. Lucky they came down from the tree for a visit, too. A little luck sure does help in photography. 🙂
Thank you, Jane! I love their tropical look. Yes, we do love that photography luck!! 🙂
That’s a find !!!! They are beautiful birds.
Thank you, Ted!
I’ve been going to Florida for many, many years and I never saw a Caracara. You’re so lucky, Donna. Good thing that you got some pictures. One time in Tampa I saw an Scarlet Ibis in a tree, as soon as I grabbed my camera, flew away and I lost the opportunity to have a photo of it. Great shots, I’m sure that you must have at least a hundred of them! 🙂 👍
Thank you, HJ, I certainly had some awesome luck that morning. Oh, just to see a Scarlet Ibis!! I’m sorry you didn’t get any photos but what a sighting!
Wow, more excitement… what a fabulous day, Donna! Great job spotting and getting back there to get the images.
Thank you, Ellen! I sure was on Cloud 9 that day!!
Wow wow wow!!! I love that last photo with the snake ❣❣❣ Oh what awesome photos and a great experience Donna!!
Thank you, Lisa, it was a fabulous morning of encounters!!
These are incredible shots, Donna! I would imagine you had trouble sleeping that night, after such an amazing day. Thanks for sharing! We have seen them on various trips – Amazon, Cost Rica, Mexico, but I’ve never gotten a shot anything close to these. Congrats!
Thank you, Susan! I had this bird on my list to try to find again (I photographed it twice in 2016), even asked a couple pro-birders who said it was luck to see them. I believe luck was on my side that morning! 🙂
Awesome capture 📷 Donna. Thank you for sharing. Something I do miss is the Raptor drives my friend and I usually did. She drove one way and I would take photos when we turned around I drove and she would take photos. Fun times….
Thank you, Coreen! Your raptor drives I’m sure were lots of fun. I’ve done similar drives, it’s great to have two sets of eyes looking! 🙂
Time to buy a lottery ticket Donna, cool bird, really tropical in appearance.
Thank you, Hans! Darn, I should have that day. 😉
Oh my! Regal birds!
Quite so! Thanks Vic!
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That is so exciting. 😊
Thank you, Irene! 😊
I’ve never seen even a picture of one of these before – so thanks for posting these wonderful images. It looks like a beautiful bird – just a shame about its eating habits!
Thank you, Mike, most glad to share! Eating like a vulture helps keep the smelly carcasses down! 🙂 I read they are sometimes seen with vultures, trying to get their turn at a carrion. I’ll pay more attention to that scenario now down here!
WOW! This is great shot. Thank you dear Donna, Love, nia
Thank you, Nia!
Great pictures, Donna! A species new to me!
Thank you, Indira!
Wow! You’re definitely in a birding paradise! How interesting to have the Crested Caracaras moving in from Central and South America. Great photos – thanks for the introduction to these new residents.
Thank you, Barbara, that morning put one huge smile on my face and a happy skip in my walk the rest of the day. 😊
I can relate to your Cloud 9 feeling. Love it when we capture something really special. Awesome photos!
Thank you, I’m glad to hear you know that feeling. That Cloud 9 puts a nice happy skip in our steps for the rest of the day, we love it!!
WOW … what a lucky and wonderful sighting Donna! Seems like you are attracting good things!
Thank you, Denise! I’m feeling that way too! 🙂
A great day indeed! Nice photos, Donna!
Thank you, Belinda, it was!
They’re so cool looking! What an exciting start to your birding year this has been! 😀
Thank you, Deborah! I’ve heard a few say there seems to be more birds this winter down here. Maybe because there are less people? I’m not sure, but I know I am loving them all!
I totally get that! 😀
These are terrific photos. Looking closely at the last one, looks like the snake was eating something when the falcon grabbed it. Circle of life.
Thank you! I believe the snake was dead already, one of the Caracara’s was picking at it before the second flew down. You can see it has a piece in its mouth.
What a bird(s)! I am so happy your birding year is off to a wonderful start ❤ Stay safe and well my friend!
Thank you, Takami! The birds have been my sanity through this pandemic, I’m thankful I’ve been able to roam freely in remote areas. Hope all is well with you and your family!
OMG Donna!!!!! How awesome to see those. I’ve NEVER seen them down in the Everglades. You were in Everglades City when you saw them? How special!! I am totally in awe of your ability to be in the right place at the right time. So special!
Thank you, Audrey! No, not seen in Everglades City. They were along Rt 41 heading to Naples, after San Marco Rd. I saw one again yesterday in the same area when Rick drove (flew lol) by. 🙂
What a find on the way home from the grocery store!! Thankfully, you apparently go nowhere without your camera 😉
Thank you, Carol! I don’t go anywhere without my camera…because if I don’t, I WILL see something! 🙂