Subject: albino harrier at South Bend
Date: Feb 3 11:01:42 2004
From: Netta Smith - nettasmith at comcast.net


I happened upon this post in the recent tweeters archives and wondered why
no one had suggested a partial albino Red-tailed Hawk for this bird. The
description sounds fine for such a bird, and red-tails are so common that
albinos are rather often seen (I've seen a half-dozen over the years, with
much variation, in Washington).

While I'm on line, I have to add that my understanding was that at this time
a number of people who know gulls well have stated their satisfaction that
the Renton Great Black-backed Gull is in fact a GBBG, nothing more or less.
I heartily second Brendan McGarry's plea to cease and desist discussions
about its identity on tweeters and leave the discussion to the members of
the Washington Bird Records Committee at its next meeting. The committee of
course appreciates the abundance of input.

And finally, I'm watching a Bewick's Wren that has learned to pick up suet
pieces from the ground that are dropped by flickers pecking big chunks of it
out. It runs out of the bushes like a little roadrunner, grabs some suet,
and runs back in. Cute!

Dennis Paulson
--
Netta Smith and Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115