What's That Shadow?

Tag: Raptors

  • Immature Red Tailed Hawk Release

    Immature Red Tailed Hawk Release

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    This immature red tailed hawk was released in October 2025 after a successful rehabiltation by the Avian Medical Clinic at Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, SC. https://thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/avian-medical-clinic/ The red tail hawk was found injured and stuck in a fence in Johns Island SC. He was released in the area where he was found.…

  • Male Osprey vs Live Fish

    Male Osprey vs Live Fish

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    This male osprey brings in a huge live fish to eat on the dock. Is this a redfish, my fishing people? My guess is that this is a male osprey because of the lack of a brown necklace or banding around the upper chest. Ospreys are raptors or birds of prey. They have hooked beaks…

  • Bald Eagle Missing Lower Jaw (Mandible / Beak) & Black Necrotic Feet

    Bald Eagle Missing Lower Jaw (Mandible / Beak) & Black Necrotic Feet

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    This adult bald eagle flew into a tree and we were so excited as it had been months since we’ve seen one. Upon focusing in, we saw that it is missing it’s lower beak / mandible / jaw. We then noticed extremely black feet which is not good because raptors need healthy talons and feet…

  • Turkey Vulture Feaking After Eating

    Turkey Vulture Feaking After Eating

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    This turkey vulture ate a dead stingray in the marsh and comes up to the dock to feak. Feaking is the act of a bird cleaning and or honing it’s beak after eating. In Charleston SC, they have to work with the tides to eat. They can’t eat the things they can’t see or get…

  • Osprey Eats Fish On Dock

    Osprey Eats Fish On Dock

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    This male osprey caught a small fish and brought it to our dock to eat. It took about 16 minutes from start to finish. The osprey feaks (cleans, hones it’s beak), shakes, poops and takes off, pretty classic bird behavior. Ospreys are raptors with hooked beaks and talons. They generally dive feet first into water…

  • Eagle Eating Fish Being Harassed

    Eagle Eating Fish Being Harassed

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    This adult eagle has caught a fish and unzipped it and eats it in an oak tree while being harassed by crows and grackles. My estimate for the eagles age is 3 ½ years old based on spotty plumage in the white areas of fully mature adult eagles of 5 ish. His or her beak…

  • See Through Turkey Vulture Nose

    See Through Turkey Vulture Nose

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    Two turkey vultures are in an oak tree along the marsh and then fly down to a shed. One is sunning and the other is curious about the ground where our compost bin is. Alas, it’s just veggies! Turkey vultures are sweet, goofy, and very fast runners. They have a great sense of smell to…

  • Turkey Vulture Sunning Horaltic Pose

    Turkey Vulture Sunning Horaltic Pose

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    This turkey vulture is sunning with the sun on his back on our dock in Charleston SC in Dec 2024. Adult turkey vultures wingspan is about 6 feet. This position is referred to as the horaltic position. Outstretched feathers can be for thermoregulating (warming up or cooling down), drying feathers or for killing bacteria or…

  • Female Osprey Eating, Pooping, Feaking

    Female Osprey Eating, Pooping, Feaking

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    This is a female osprey eating in an oak tree next to a Charleston SC marsh. The osprey brings in a half eaten fish, eats it for around 8 minutes and finishes with the fish tail. She poop shoots, cleans and hones her beak (called feaking), and takes off. We know this is a female…