Hi all:

There was a Prairie Falcon in a field directly east of the Snow Goose Dept.
of Wildlife site on Fir Island late this afternoon. When Judy Duvall and I
got there, several people (Greg Toffic & some others I didn't know) were
looking at it. We all felt that it was a very probable Prairie, but we
agreed we would like either a closer look or to see it fly. After everyone
else left, Judy saw it take off on a brief flight, and we both had a good
look at the dark axillaries. I think this is the first west side Prairie
Falcon reported this year - wonder where these birds come from.
Also, there was a beautiful, dark adult Red-tailed Hawk on Thomle Road (but
no Tropical Kingbird) near Stanwood. It had a deep rufous breast and tail
and flashy two-toned underwings. We did not see it at close enough range in
good enough light to determine if it was a dark rufous morph or an
intergrade. Perhaps some one else will be luckier - this is a beautiful
bird, and it would be a pleasure to take a long, close look at it.

Ruth Taylor
Seattle/Ballard
rutht at seanet.com