Subject: Eurasian Kestral?
Date: Nov 15 08:15:54 1999
From: Chris S - chriss at micronics.net



Went to Bow yesterday, Sunday. Saw either the Eurasian kestral or an
inmate peregrine falcon in the field across from the Bow post office
(next to the antique store) at 12.30. I only had binocs. (the birders
with scopes had moved elsewhere--they were in the 4100 area of Chuckanut
when I first arrived at 10:30), and I could not see it's talons (looking
for the black talons reported), but it definitely had the single
mustache mark. It did not have a pale superciliary line like the
picture for the immature peregrine, but it looked larger than I expected
the E. Kestrel to be. It had a brown with buff streaked head [one buff
feather was sticking up--maybe from its encounters with the harrier], a
beautiful streaked buff [not cream] chest, and a banded tail noticeably
longer than its wing tips when it sat on the telephone pole. When it
flew, the under side of the wings had light and dark variations [like
page 155 of Peterson's "Hawks"].
Except for the size, I would say that I saw the E. Kestrel. How
large was the kestrel that Bud A. banded (I can't translate 162 mm of
unflattened wing cord to inches)? Was she about 13-14 long? If so,
then I will feel comfortable adding the Eurasian Kestrel to my life
list.
This falcon was being harassed by two N. harriers (who were usually
hunting in the field on the other side of a dead end road. One of the
harriers kept swooping at the falcon when it landed on the ground--even
landing on the ground too at one point (couldn't see what they were
doing because of the high grass).
A kingfisher was raising quite a ruckus at the Karma Nursery--it was
driving off another kingfisher--such language!
It was a beautiful day, and raptors abounded:
Even saw an immature bald eagle sitting in an evergreen tree
that was obviously too small for its size (it was sitting with its
head/neck scrunched up--almost looked like a vulture, before we did a
quick pull-off to get a better look). Pretty funny.

Please send your opinions, especially anyone who saw the bird
yesterday. If it was a peregrine and not the E kestrel, it was still a
good sighting, and well worth the trip from Seattle.

Chris Southwick
Seattle
chriss at micronics.net