At 06:07 PM 2/25/98 -0000, Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney wrote:
> "Accidental. On August 8, 1976, S. Herman located a Red-shouldered Hawk
near the Blitzen
>River at P Ranch. S. Croghan and I returned with Herman to the same
location on August 9.
>The individual was watched for some time as it attempted to roost in a
cottonwood grove. Eight
>Red-tailed Hawks were also roosting and continually harassed the
Red-shouldered Hawk.
>Eventually it was driven away and was last seen flying southwest over P
Ranch (Littlefield 1980).
>In addition, M. Smith observed an adult and immature near Frenchglen on
August 27, 1987.
>These represent the only refuge records; however C. Bendire collected
three eggs from two
>nests near Camp Harney (10 miles north of Malheur Lake) in April and May
1878. In addition,
>Bendire (1892) collected an adult female on April 17, 1878."
>
>A bit more grist for the mill...

I did say the "greater Malheur Area" and mentioned my (sanctioned) record
from Roaring Springs
(which Littlefield doesn't include in his NWR bookl, rightly, because it's
like 20-30 miles
from the Refuge). My field-trip's record is not from the refuge, just from
"Malheur" :)

But, yes, refuge records are even more rare and underline the rarity of
sighting this species.
"M Smith" is "Mark Smith". I'm not sure if Bendire's records are accepted
by modern birding
records commitees, which are the records I referred to - though obviously
they should be
accepted in the ornithology world (which is what counts :)

I have little doubt that Steve Herman is one of those who has a BW record
to his name, after
all he comes down every spring.

Anyway, we know they come down in small number each year. Bonney Butte has
seen them in 2
of 3 years. Cape Flattery has some records. They come through here in
small number, no
doubt. The raptor migration observation project in the Marin Headlands
counts a dozen or
two every year...




- Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
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