Hi Tweeters -
I stumbled across a Red-shouldered Hawk yesterday on Puget Island.
The bird was sitting on the edge of a grove of trees, roadside on SR
409, just a little north of the mp1 marker [miles begin from the
ferry dock]. Fortunately, traffic was nonexistent, so I could pause
on the road and observe for a minute or so. The bird appeared to be
an adult, pretty solid orange all the way down the breast & belly.
When it flew away through the trees, I got good looks at the banded
tail, and topside of the wings, with the crescents.

After it flew, I found a pull off a good ways away and walked back
[no shoulder to speak of on this road, be careful], but was unable to
re-locate it. This was in late afternoon, around 3:45-4:00.

Directions: I was coming north, from across the river in Oregon -
take the ferry from Westport, drive north 1 mile on Puget Island.
From the WA side, take SR 4 to Cathlamet. Turn south and follow the
signs toward the ferry, watching the milepost markers.

[Delorme, p. 31 C-5/6]

Overall, it was a great birding day, though not in WA except for the
RSHA. I was staying near Portland for a relative's wedding the night
before. An early start took me to the the Eugene Falcated Duck before
8:00, and then the Seaside Yellow-throated Warbler by around 11:30. 2
lifers before lunch!

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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