Hi everyone,



This morning when I went outside to walk the dog, I noticed a raptor in the 'raptor snag tree' near our house that attracts perch-hunting or resting raptors fairly frequently.? Size and profile seemed right for a Peregrine Falcon, which we get fairly regularly (possibly the nesting pair from Snoqualmie Falls, which is quite close as the bird flies) so I didn't give it too much thought.? When I got back in the house, I put the scope on it figuring I'd sketch it if it sat still long enough.?



Except...my 'Peregrine' had a supercilium instead of the peregrine 'helmet' - and turned out to be a beautiful adult Northern Goshawk, a completely unexpected first for the yard list!? It stayed for a few minutes more to allow study through the scope, then flew off and out of sight.? If it were to start showing up more regularly, I'll let folks who might want to chase it know...but given this is the first of this species here in almost nine years, I'm not banking on a return visit.



You never know, though...



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net