Tweets, Tho I don't know how to spell leucistic, I was watching a super-pale
Red-tailed Hawk along Gibson Rd (about 5-7 miles WSW of Tenino) when
suddenly a "real" red-tail came bombing in at low altitude, talons-first,
and knocked the first bird right off the fencepost. They fell together into
tall grass and I could not determine the result, nor could I stick around
and find out because my allotted time was up. (I had left the house Saturday
morning at 6:15 to chase the goodies at Nisqually (Black Tern, Wilson's
Phalarope, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Whimbrel.) and was pushing it to get
back for breakfast and chores at 10.) The bird was off-white and pale
brownish-beige with the palest markings at/near the base of the primaries,
white or nearly so. It struck me as possibly a young or sick bird because it
never flew very high or "convincingly," perched a lot, didn't appear
particularly steady or confident on its feet, and allowed surprisingly close
approach. Perhaps it had been attacked previously? Interesting, too, that
the male harrier working the area showed up pronto immediately after the
strike, almost like he was in on it, too. Everywhere I checked Saturday was
extremely birdy, would have been a great day to shoot for 100 species in the
county (did it 6/13/05), I had 80 by 10am after only 3 hours and limited
coverage. I was asked about LAZULI BUNTING. I found one singing on Melville
Rd W of Tenino near the NW corner of the broom field. Good birding!
-- Paul Hicks / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace.org