Discussion Topic |
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| Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic |
Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 14, 2006 - 02:55am PT
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I was out at Pinnacles this last Sunday not to climb, but to look at the California Condors. Ablegable had a close encounter of the feathery kind while climbing in the "High Peaks" area, where a condor landed at the chains of the climb he was on, forcing him to back off.
Anyway, Debbie is very into raptors, so we went out to spy on the guys. I took along my 500mm f8 Nikon Reflex lens and got a bunch of shots... spectacular to watch these birds.
If you're out that way keep your eyes open!
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scuffy b
climber
S Cruz
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Feb 14, 2006 - 11:28am PT
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Ed, I can't tell from your photos: are they getting
into their adult plumage now?
It's kind of funny going out there wondering whether
you would recognize one, and then when one shows up
you wonder how you could ever confuse it with a Turkey
Vulture.
sm
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scuffy b
climber
S Cruz
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Feb 14, 2006 - 11:29am PT
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What's closed?
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salad
climber
San Diego
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Feb 14, 2006 - 11:43am PT
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all i can say is Big Bird and Old E. 5.7(?) negative 1 star.
Meow, Meow, Meow.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
one pass away from the big ditch
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Feb 14, 2006 - 11:45am PT
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Clint's site has the link to the NPS site, but I don't think the NPS site has the full list of closures up yet for this year. Allegedly same as last year, but includes Tugboat formation too.
You don't have to get near closed formations to see the Condors though!
Prehistoric looking things!!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 14, 2006 - 09:31pm PT
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scuffy_b - they still have juv markings, acording to Debbie... so not quite adults. They were "playing" in the air, so starting to feel their adolescent oats... but no action yet.
The small head and "box car" wings are distinguishing characteristics, as well as the absence of a white band on their tail feathers. The grey smudge on that looks like its on the tail is the condor's feet.
Huge and distinct from a TV.... what's amazing is that the TV's look much smaller than the Condor
here is an adult TV I shot at Sunol Regional Park:
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 14, 2006 - 09:39pm PT
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Here is a little fuzzy picture, the "epilettes" on the top of the wings are the number tags.
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scuffy b
climber
S Cruz
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Feb 15, 2006 - 12:05pm PT
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Nice, Ed
I like the "boxcar" wings. What I thought right away was
"picnic table"
When they pull into a glide, like your TV, the trailing
edge of the wing gets more exaggerated into an S shape than
the TV.
Also, in full soar (if the boxcar wings didn't do it for you)
the condors seem to spread their tail more, like a Redtail,
than the TVs which tend to keep it a bit narrow.
Happy Trails!
sm
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