Subject: [Tweeters] Swainson's Hawks Moving Through Western Washington
Date: May 18 10:58:55 2012
From: Wayne Weber - contopus at telus.net


Brad,



You have been exceptionally lucky to have seen Swainson's Hawk in Kitsap
County five springs in a row.



Here in the Vancouver, BC area, we have NEVER had a credible record of a
Swainson's Hawk, ever. We have had at least 25 reports over the years, not
one of which has been photographed or accompanied by an acceptable written
description. The "exceptionally rare" status would still seem to apply to
most of western Washington and coastal BC. Even in the southern BC
interior, I am surprised at how rarely this species is recorded away from
known breeding areas. (There are a few records from Manning Park and the
crest of the Cascades.)



Swainson's Hawks are often reported in late fall, winter, and early spring
by observers who are unaware of how highly migratory this species is, and
that it does not normally winter in North America. Swainson's have several
color morphs, and can be easily confused with the many color morphs of
Red-tailed Hawks. I would suggest that even for western Washington, it is
important for all Swainson's Hawk records to be carefully documented, and
certainly we will not be accepting any records in the Vancouver, BC area
without such documentation.



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net







From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Brad
Waggoner
Sent: May-17-12 8:07 PM
To: tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Swainson's Hawks Moving Through Western Washington



Hi All,

Bud Anderson asks a real interesting question as to the status of the spring
movement of Swainson's Hawk's here on the west-side. Are more moving through
here or are just more people becoming aware of them? I have noted in North
American Birds that Swainson's Hawks were exceptionally rare in western
Washington prior to 1997, but have become annual since 2003. That doesn't
answer the question, but it does put Bud's question in context.

I think that increased birder awareness is mainly what we are seeing here
with west-side spring movement of Swainson's Hawks. But, this perspective
has much to do with my personal experience with them over here on the Kitsap
Peninsula. I now specifically target them from late April to mid-May by
scouring the skies on days when there seems to be nice conditions for raptor
migration. Though I'm probably glancing skyward even on unfavorable days -
just a habit of mine. Anyway, I have recorded Swainson's Hawk in the past
five springs including a fly-over of three at Point no Point back on May 17,
2008. I do think the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula is proving to be a
nice little funnel for overhead migrants whether it be raptors or passerines
so I'm spoiled in that respect. Regardless, I can say that prior to 2005, I
know I was not making a specific effort to search for Swainson's Hawks. I
now kind of expect to find one annually.

Cheers and good birding,
Brad Waggoner
Bainbridge Island
mailto:wagtail at sounddsl.com

Subject: Swainson's Hawk at Greenbank
From: Bud Anderson <falconresearch AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 11:45:02 -0700

Nice sighting and video.
Only Swainson's Hawks I have seen on the west side of the Cascades in WA
were both adults, both in late April, both on the Highway 20 intermediate
grass strip just west of the Farmhouse Inn in different years.
A third one was a juvenile (SY) I caught and banded at Sea-Tac Airport 11
May last year.
I would call your bird an adult based on the dark terminal tail band and
clear underwing coverts.
I wonder if we are seeing more moving through here in spring or just more
people are becoming aware of them?

Bud Anderson
Falcon Research Group
Box 248
Bow, WA 98232
(360) 757-1911
falconresearch AT gmail.com_______________________________________________
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