On Sunday evening as the sun went down, we were driving on San Juan Island,
just south of American Camp on a road that winds along the cliffs above the
shoreline. We found ourselves at about eye-level with a raptor (a kestrel?)
that was "hovering" high above the beach It was quite a feat to watch. -
And we did watch, for at least 15 minutes - It was a windy evening, and even
with the shifting winds (both speed and direction) the bird was able to
maintain an exact and unwavering position. Every once in a while it would
ride the wind a bit and then resume it's hovering. It was as precise and
exact as if it had a gyroscope to maintain its position.

Didi Anstett
mailto:didianstet at aol.com