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Post by old coot on Dec 16, 2022 21:00:08 GMT -8
It was a very VERY good day today. Bufflehead and I went for a drive, and on Seabird Island Road we saw our nemesis bird- the Wilsons Snipe! DSCF3272_1 by Klaus Molthagen, on Flickr Not only one, but two birds! WOW! At this time of year? They made us both happy to see them. Now for the id help. We also saw a hawk: DSCF3244 by Klaus Molthagen, on Flickr Dave thinks it is a Swainsons Hawk, but with that dark belly band I still think it is a Red-Tailed Hawk. It did not fly off so we never saw the tail or the underside of the wings. Looking in my bird books at home, it says both birds are highly variable in plumage. The pictures show darker brown chest above belly band on the Swainsons and a whiter throat, but shorter wings tips for the Re-Tailed Hawk. So, what do you say it is? Could be either. It unfortunately did not come with a definitive name tag on the wing. Thanks for you help, as always. Klaus
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Post by Jon on Dec 16, 2022 21:44:28 GMT -8
It is a Red-tailed Hawk.
Like you mentioned the belly band is a good feature. Also a Swainsons Hawk would be very rare in winter.
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Post by paulos on Dec 17, 2022 5:40:39 GMT -8
Agreed, this has all the usual features of a Red-tail in terms of head, breast and belly and tail. A Swainson's should be in Argentina now!
Great Snipe find! I used to do the Seabird area for the Christmas Bird Count and has Snipe sightings around the same area in winters past.
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Post by old coot on Dec 17, 2022 9:32:28 GMT -8
Many thanks for the ID help. But I saw my first SNIPE!!!! Yeah. Klaus
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