Posted by Grover Larkins on October 13, 2018 at 19:27:08
Hi, over Thursday and Friday PM I have twice seen what looks for all the world like an Aplomado Falcon in the vicinity of Jacaranda Country Club (Friday) and Nob Hill and SR-84 (Thursday) in Broward County. The bird appears to be about 1&1/3 to 1&1/2 times larger than an American Kestrel. It is both darker and silent with athletic direct flight, sharply pointed wings, head is about even with wrist on wings - no hovering, not Kestrel like behavior in any manner. Appears to be a bird hunter by behavior not looking into grass etc. for lizards, insects etc. . Wings are very long for anything I usually (have ever seen) see here in Fla. It is Absolutely not an Accipter of any kind nor a Buteo of any kind. Too large with too great a wingspan and too slow (faster than a Kestrel, not as fast as a Merlin) to be a Merlin. Of course it is NOT a Peregrine, I have seen loads of them and this bird is too small and slow for that. This might be a gift from Michael..... If it is an Aplomado I would send it back to Texas if it would bring even one victim back from that tragedy. Good Luck! Grover