Crested Caracara

Crested Caracara Sightings near Picacho Peak (Feb.17th)

Thanks to a Facebook Group I learned that a number of crested caracaras  make their home in an agricultural area called Santa Cruz Flats.  The caracara is a vulture-like falcon, more resident in Latin America, Southern Texas and South Florida than Arizona.  This location may be its northern-most range.

I was thrilled to photograph one in a field in the extreme northeast of this area, close to Picacho Peak State Park, thanks to some specific advice from some local birders.  This was close to the intersection of E. Baumgartner and S. Wheeler Roads. Please note the farms are private property.  The following are some photos of my outing, with captions.

Fallow cotton field among many irrigated fields in the area.

Great blue heron in between two fields. Pecan trees seem to border the farms.

First caracara sighting.

Cropped shot. I suspect they're growing alfalfa.

Extremely cropped shot, and my best image of the caracara. I never got closer than 100 feet. 

When I got any closer, he started  quickly walking. 

And then he flew away, followed by maybe three others that had been hidden nearby in a field. So my subject had been acting as a sort of sentinel.  

A nearby haystack, reminiscent of a native pueblo.

View of nearby Picacho Peak and non-irrigated, virgin desert.

Red-tailed hawk, one of many seen along the  miles of rural roads in the area.  The pecan trees along the fields' borders seemed to have sparrows, cowbirds and red-winged blackbirds. But I didn't take the time to investigate.  Next time!