Sumas Prairie Jan 17, 2008

[Gord]

On my way past looking at the doves I ran into a Harlen's Hawk which is a subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk. I cant remember the road it was on.

Got a couple cummy shots. The flight picture shows the pale tail.






Also ran into a gyrfalcon that flew right over the car then paralleled the road for a short bit. Yesterday I was saying we need one for the month's list!! Awesome birds. They sure carry themselves in a way that makes them look stronger and tougher than a Peregrine!

A nice female(?) Rough-legged Hawk was on a pole.



Two Western Gulls were among the gulls I looked at. Another was close but was not quite pure Western.

I like Sumas Prairie! I wish I have birded it more in the past. Will certainly do more now! Lots of open area away from houses and many of the roads are wide and quiet.

[ed]

Gord, Sumas Prairie has been quite productive...I've taken a drive through at least once a week this winter and regular checks through the last 5 years.It is possible to come up with fairly consistent good birds. Good one on the Gyrfalcon...I haven't been so fortunate yet(this year)!
Just a note regarding the E C-doves. On the 16th I scoped the birds briefly on the concrete slab of the farm 200m south of the intersection and then drove off. The home owner drove after me and asked why I took pics of his barn. I explained the whole story(didn't have my camera with me) and he hopped in the back seat of my car to get out of the wind. We talked for 35 minutes about everything under the sun and parted as friends. This encounter is the second time this winter, people have driven up and asked what my purposes were. In both cases they were reassured that my intentions were not malevolent, and that birders will be around and can actually deter crime ! The point of this story is to be discreet and very sensitive to homeowners.

[Dave]

Great birds, Gord, and thanks for the reminder about birding near the homes of others, ed.

[Gord]

Ed, excellent work with landowners!