Subject: [Tweeters] Rough-legged Hawk, SE King county
Date: Oct 22 20:08:50 2012
From: Aquila Chrysaetos - ladyhawk707 at msn.com



Tweeters,

Kevin saw a "Big Bird" lift off from our field today and land atop our neighbor's Douglas Fir. He got his small scope on it then fetched me because he was sure it was not a Red-tail. Two Crows and a Raven had put aside their differences to unite in a swooping attack on the hawk. Despite the rain we were able to see that the head was lighter than the wing & shoulder area with a smudgy dark eyeline. It had a dark bib on the uppermost breast. After a few minutes, it flew (away from us, of course) while the corvids continued their attack. I was only able to see that its underwings were mostly light with some dark markings. I did see that the underside of the tail was very light with a black terminal band and that there was the same contrast on the top side. Its wingspan appeared to be equal to the Raven's.
A new yard bird for us, halfway between Auburn and Enumclaw.

Sandy Daniels, Enumclaw Plateau
Ladyhawk707 AT msn DOT com