N. Briefer's sightings are incredible. His reports may include more
Goshawks than all other Island County birding records in history combined!
(see Matt Bartel's County Checklist linked below)
http://www.wabirder.com/bartel_co_checklist.html

He reports that he is able to identify Goshawks from 2 miles away and
doesn't normally use field marks! He sees Goshawks that our best birders
are unable to see! I wish I could find and identify rarer birds that well!
(though it might be frustrating if none of our more experienced birders
could confirm these rare bird sightings)

While I don't want to discourage newer birders from giving their sightings
of unusually rare birds, I do think newer subscribers need to know how
incredible these sightings are.

-Stewart Wechsler

-----Original Message-----
From: Ebriefer at aol.comSent: Friday, May 09, 2008 6:23 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Black Swift Purple Martin

May 9 2008 North Whidbey Island - Ken Boyle and I went to N. Whidbey Island
to look for Goshawks. Heard - Chipping Sparrow. In flight - 2 Black Swifts;
1 Purple Martin- female or immature; Bald Eagles; RT. Hawks; Turkey
Vultures; 2 sightings of Goshawk; on one sighting the bird went to altitude
of about 2,000 feet. Nelson Briefer ebriefer at aol.com Anacortes, Wa.
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.23.8/1414 - Release Date: 5/4/2008
12:31 PM