A couple flew of accipitors flew in this morning one seemed to be
following he other. In flight by naked eye (both birds in the same
view) they appeared to be the same size (i.e. same sex). They were
certainly crow-sized (ruling out male sharp shins). And both looked
like flying crucifixes rather than flying mallets (plenty of head) so
not Sharp Shins.

One perched up in a tree. The other flew around and I think left (I
was heading towards the tree).

One other couple at the fill (all Leica gear including bins, camera
and scope on a backpack) got a view and from head shape though it to
be Coopers. I believe he said the coloration was adult rather than
juvenile.

I didn't get it after that until I saw it flying away. From viewing a
few other Coopers Hawk's it's wing flap rate seemed a bit faster than
what I'd seen before. If that's the case they may be males (a bit
smaller than the females).

So this is from behavior/jizz rather than seeing field marks.

I suspect they were Cooper's Hawks and possibley males.

On Apr 18, 2009, at 11:58 AM, Byers wrote:

> Hi, Tweeters,
>
> My husband and I were at the Montlake Fill this morning
> (Saturday). While trying to locate a pair of Downy Woodpeckers we
> had heard
> in the tall alders (I guess that's what they are) near the swing
> set frame,
> an accipiter flew into the top of one of the tall trees. All I
> could see of
> the accipiter was its tail, which looked long and squarish, and its
> general
> paler coloration and smallish size. Before we could get a better
> look it
> flew off to the west. I wondered if anyone else at the Fill this
> morning
> about 9-9:30 happened to see this bird and could tell whether we saw a
> Cooper's Hawk or Sharp-shinned Hawk. If so, could you please let
> me know?

--
Kevin Purcell
kevinpurcell at pobox.com