Subject: Toppenish 2/29/04
Date: Feb 29 19:09:38 2004
From: Scott Downes - downess at charter.net


Went out along Toppenish NWR (Delorme pg. 37 B-5) area this afternoon and
not much to report but did have two interesting raptors on Marion Drain Rd
and a Yellow-shafted Flicker on Old Goldendale Rd, just north of Pumphouse
Rd. The two raptors, one of which I could use an opinion on for those that
have experience with light morph Harlan's immature.
A dark-morph Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk on Marion Drain Rd, near S. Wapato Rd.
Just west of this location on Marion Drain rd, close to Campbell rd I
noticed a very strange hawk that had a very pale whitish head, the tail was
very whitish, but did have a hint of some reddish starting in the out edge
of the primaries, the belly was also very pale but had a light but distinct
belly band. Based on the photo below of an adult light-morph Harlan's, I'm
guessing this was an immature Light-morph Harlan's.

Photo of adult light-morph:
http://www.martinreid.com/buteos1b.html
See the bird directly under #4, red not quite as extensive as bird in photo
and head did show some faint patterning but much paler.My bird did have a
white throat and not as much breast streaks as the bird in the photo.

Good Birding.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA