Today Geri Walker and I sighted what we could only i.d. as a Krider's Red Tailed Hawk at E. 90 on Samish Flats. At first blush we were startled to think we were seeing a Rough Legged Hawk at this time of year, because of the white head on the bird. However, when we got out of the car we could see it was not a Rough Legged and Geri immediately called it as a Krider's. When we got our scopes on it we could see that it had not only a white head, but a pale red tail and a splotchy white and brown back. It did not appear to be a leucistic, albinistic, or light morph Red Tail Hawk. We were unable to view the front of the bird, but saw it from the side and back only. After reviewing all of my field guides, the bird most closely resembles the Krider's pictured in National Geo. Geri had seen this bird on Wednesday (two days ago) in the exact same spot, but was not birding at the time and did not have her bins or scope with her. The bird was on a telephone wire on Bayview/Edison Road, between the first two ninety degree turns after you have turned off of Farm to Market onto Bayview/Edison heading west (the first left west of the bridge over the Samish River). Both times it was viewed at approximately 9:00 a.m.

It would be great if someone else could locate this bird and confirm the sighting, or, better yet, get a photo of it to post. Neither of us had a camera in the car. All feedback is welcome. A front view and a view of the under wings would be helpful, neither of which we were able to get.

We also walked out the dike at Wiley Slough Game Range, took the first right off the gravel dike, and among the numerous Least Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers we found a single non-breeding Wilson's Phalarope and a single Baird's Sandpiper. They were all in the muddy/marshy area of the middle pond/marsh on the left.

It was a good day, topped off by the appearance of a family of quail in the yard of a friend, while enjoying afternoon tea.

Joan Bird

Bellingham, WA




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