I just returned from the Montlake Fill and saw a raptor that I can't
identify. I'm pretty inexperienced, but I can't find anything in
Peterson's Western field guide that even comes close.

The head and breast were brown-white mottled, but mostly white, and the
back was brown. There was a distintive white "ring" that extended along
the throat and up around the back of the head (which sorted of reminded me
of an owl). It had long tail feathers, and when it flew, a distinctive
white rump patch (like what Peterson shows for the Norther Harrier). The
head and bill were very "eagle-like." Long tail feathers. The bird was
maybe about a 18 inches long or so. The eyes were yellow.

The closest I could find was the Northern Harrier, but the head is all wrong.

It sat on the ground for a long time in what I think is called the
central pond (the one by the main path, all dried up), and I was able to
get within about 15 feet. I had plenty of time to get a good look at it.

Any ideas?

Jim Lady
Center for Quantitative Science
University of Washington
jiml at cqs.washington.edu