Photo Gallery: Predators Visit the Pacific Beach Marshland

By Roy Little

Because the Kendall-Frost/Northern Wildlife Preserve in Pacific Beach is an isolated haven for small wildlife, various predators visit the marsh for food. Here are some photos of several breeds of hawks in the marsh and around the edges. These hawks mainly commute because the marsh and its surroundings are so close to human habitation. While their individual roosting and nest locations remains somewhat of a mystery, there is much to be said about their general size, appearance and habits.

An Osprey perched on a log in the marsh. Since hunting by air is very energy intensive most hawks spend a lot of time resting and digesting. (Wingspan up to 63 inches, and weight up to 3.5 pounds).
A White-tailed Kite perched on an artificial Clapper Rail nest. They are mainly white with a long white tail and black shoulders so are very distinctive. (Wingspan up to 39 inches and weight up to 12 ounces).
A portrait of a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk. Note that the plumage changes significantly with from young to old.
A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk though it does not yet have a red tail. This hawk is relatively common, nests in tall trees and hunts from a perch. (Wingspan up to 49 inches and weight up to 2.4 pounds).
A portrait of the same Red-tailed Hawk.
A Northern Harrier. The face is somewhat like an owl’s. It nests on the ground in grass or marsh. (Wingspan up to 43 inches, weight up to 15 ounces).
A Northern Harrier in a characteristic flight pattern. It slowly flies just above the marsh and then pounces on small birds and mammals. It has a white rump which makes it distinctive in flight.
An adult American Kestrel holding onto the top of a palm tree. It is the smallest falcon. (Wingspan up to 22 inches and weight up to 4 ounces).
A portrait of an adult Cooper’s Hawk. It feeds on small birds and mammals caught in surprise attacks from the air. (Wingspan up to 31 inches and weight up to 1 pound).
The talons of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon, taken from below as it perched in Torrey Pines State Park.
A disheveled Osprey drying out. Ospreys eat mainly fish; they fly above the water and dive head first with talons extended to catch a fish. This is a high-impact exercise! Beaks are used later at a perch to cut-up the catch.
A juvenile Cooper’s Hawk waiting impatiently for food. The parent catches prey and in flight drops it so the juvenile can learn to catch it.
Another view of an American Kestrel. It mainly eats insects and small mammals.
An adult Peregrine Falcon. These birds nest on high cliff edges and there are two nests in Torrey Pines State Park this year. They are extremely acrobatic and stoop on flying prey, usually smaller birds, at very high speeds. (Wingspan 41 inches and weight up to 1.6 pounds).