Yesterday (11/17), I drove out to the Smith Farm Wildlife Management Area
outside of Stanwood. It was an amazing day for raptors on Eide Road! It was
a real challenge for me - being somewhat of an amateur at birds of prey
identification. Especially since more than 75% of the birds were immatures.
My biggest problem though was a smaller raptor, about the size of a crow I'd
guess, with the distinct body of an accipiter. But it was an immature and in
Peterson's Guide, all of the immature accipiters look alike! It was brown,
with a long tail, and vertical streaks on its breast. The only noticable
marking was a lighter brown eyebrow stripe. Was this a Northern Goshawk?
Given the terrain I was very skeptical of my own I.D., but no other
accipiter seemed to fit.

Any help appreciated!

DL McClurg
dlmcclurg at hotmail.com
Arlington, WA
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