This ellusive bird

[Aggie_Ama]

Well Osprey's range covers more area but there is absolutely no water on this side of the area. The only reason I thought maybe the caracara is my husband's grower is an avid birder and said he has seen them in the area (this was a block from the nursery). Plus he was chilling with the buzzards as the Cornell site says they are apt to do. I have been to pick up DH twice but only seen grackels lately. Silly birds making me crazy.

[SlowButSteady]

It was most likely a caracara. I understand they occur with some regularity well into your area. Osprey are almost always near water.

I've not personally seen one, but I visited a sheep ranch smack in the middle of TX where the rancher was complaining about them. Whether right or wrong, he at least attributed some of his lamb losses to "Mexican eagles."

[bmccasland]

I'd go with Caracara, I've seen them soar with vultures along the border in Arizona, which osprey wouldn't do. Caracara and vultures have similar eating habits, they're scavangers, while ospreys are predators - they like their meat fresh.

So now you'll just have to pay closer attention to the soaring vultures to see if it's the Caracara, a turkey vulture, or a black vulture. Need a good bird guide (book) or binoculars?

[Aggie_Ama]

Actually I am going to get a guide book this weekend because DH is taking me hiking. It is my treat for being his constant mountain bike race cheerleader. I got to pick the place and am super excited. Book suggestions? We have two sets of binoculars.

[bmccasland]

Actually I am going to get a guide book this weekend because DH is taking me hiking. It is my treat for being his constant mountain bike race cheerleader. I got to pick the place and am super excited. Book suggestions? We have two sets of binoculars.

The Sibley Guide to Birds, hands down http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/pr...ge.asp?mi=4068. I have others on my shelves - National Geographic, Peterson, Golden, Audubon, but it's the Sibley that I take out in the field with me. It isn't exactly a "pocket" sized book, so either get a shoulder pouch to carry it in, or a fanny pack. I find a daypack makes my bird guides too hard to get too. I can twirl my fanny pack from back to front if I want to get something out of it. Don't forget a note pad and pencil to record your sightings! Forestry Supplier's even has a birder's journal on Rite-in-Rain paper (won't break down if it gets wet) http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/pr...ge.asp?mi=5192, just make sure you use permanent ink or pencil.

[SadieKate]

Absolutely love my Sibley's. It is also available in Western and Eastern versions for a smaller haul. The behavior guide is fascinating.

Go by your local birders' store if you have one, like a Wild Birds Unlimited. Those folks will know the best guide for your area. We have the "Birds of Oregon" guides from both Adventure Publications and Lone Pine Publishing which give larger territorial maps of our state while Sibley's maps are of the nation. These books have the added advantage of being more packable.

Waiting for the Lewis' Woodpeckers to arrive. If I want to make the WBU folks faces go green with envy, I tell them that we actually have Lewis' come to the feeder. Niener-niener.

Oh, I forgot. Before you go, do some googling for a birder's checklist for your area (or get one from the store). Those are invaluable when you're trying to figure out which one of a million birds you saw. Otherwise, you can do a lot of recordings of LBJs and LGJs.