Hello Tweets,

This afternoon my mother and I relocated the immature Red-shouldered Hawk previously reported by Robert Lockett on the 26th-27th of November. The bird was first observed along Paulson Rd. at 1:30pm,as it perched in a short alder tree along the west side of the road,then it flew east onto private property. The bird was soon relocated east of the fenced private property perched in an alder tree above a canal of water,which was ideal habitat for this species. We continued watching the bird perched in the tree within a distance of approximately 50 yards,as we obtained several photographs of the bird within limited lighting conditions. The bird remained for at least 30 minutes perched in the same tree,as we were joined by an Oregon birder,who also observed the bird in our spotting scope. The bird later dropped down into thick cover presumably pursuing prey,then was later detected further down the row of alder trees,then at 2:30pm was observed flying to another patch of alder trees to the east further away from Paulson Rd. The bird was very distinctive if flight,as the bird clearly showed distinctive white wing"flashes" on the upper and underwing,as well as the heavily spotted back and wings(as noted perched in trees). The bird's neck and head showed the most rufous tones,as it perched from the back and we never got visible looks from the front portion of the bird. The tail was clearly banded,as noted in our photographs and the bird often seemed very stocky at rest,but in flight showed the distinctive accipiter-like flight pattern. A very nice bird to see always in WA,as we anticipate or at least hope that the bird may linger for the Grays Harbor CBC on the 26th of December.

As mentioned before lighting conditions were very limited due to a fairly heavy and dark cloud cover and distance to the bird,therefore our photographs are not the best of quality of this bird,but proof enough until we maybe happen to get better photos. We have placed 3 photos of the Red-shouldered Hawk onto our website,which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/eaglesfalcons/ In addition we have placed a photo of the Great Egret onto our website taken this afternoon at Vance Creek Co. Park near Elma at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/geese/


Other noteworthy species observed during our visit at the nearby Hoquiam STP and Bowerman Basin included the following:

1 lingering injured immature Snow Goose
8 Eurasian Wigeons(amongst large groups of Am.Wigeons observed from Lana's Cafe)
32 Canvasbacks
25 Ruddy Ducks
3 Bald Eagles
5 Northern Harriers
4 Red-tailed Hawks
4 adult Peregrine Falcons
5 Virginia Rails(heard only)
1 Least Sandpiper
80+ Dunlin
3 Wilson's Snipe

On our way home we observed a flock of swans along Hwy.12 just east of Satsop that hosted 22 Tundra Swans and 14 Trumpeter Swans along with an adult Peregrine Falcon perched atop an alder tree. Our final stop of the day was made at Vance Creek Co. Park near Elma at 3:30pm,where the Great Egret was again observed and photographed at the same location that previous visits just west of the restroom facilities.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net