I saw a hawk which I believe was a white-tailed kite near the intersection of highways 821 and 823 just north of Selah yesterday. It was flying erratically like a nighthawk about 100' above the ground. I didn't get binoculars on it. It could only have been either the kite or a male northern harrier, but the wing shape seemed much too narrow and pointed in all positions for a harrier. My first thought was a common nighthawk because of the shape of the wings and the erratic, buoyant flight, but then I realized that it was too large, too pale and way too early for a nighthawk. Plumage was very pale gray above and very pale below with dark patches about mid-wing. Size seemed a little smaller than a male northern harrier.

I've only seen white-tailed kites in Washington near Centralia, so don't know if they commonly occur east of the mountains.
Brian
kc7wpd at hotmail.com
Auburn