[MDOsprey] Turkey Point- 11/11 and 11/12- GOSHAWK & Major Red-tail
leslie fisher (gonbrdn@dol.net)
Fri, 12 Nov 1999 14:27:51 -0500
Hi All:
The big news for today is the seasons first NORTHERN GOSHAWK,an immature
bird that flew low over the clearing for an in your face look. Talk
about classic GOS- will probably never get a better look.I had just been
wishing for something different than Red-tails for a little variety (
are we ever satisfied ) and voila`!!! This bird was heavily streaked
below including undertail coverts,( ruling out Coops ) straight leading
edge of wing,small handed appearance, very broad through the arm, a long
extremely broad wedge shaped tail with multiple bands. It had a small
headed appearance. A Red-tail crossed paths, giving a good size
comparison, the GOS a slightly smaller bird. It flew with a forward
rowing motion of the wings. I was nearly too thrilled to continue
counting. But.... I had to, cause there was a major Red-tail flight
going on, 90 all told between 9 and noon. They came from the
north,headed S and SSE beginning about 9:20, peaked between 10 and 11,
by noon with an empty sky. Wish I`d had someone to share the excitement
with!! Charlie Gant counted 54 birds yesterday including 24 Red-tails.
These counts put us in the neighbourhood of 6,700 for the season,
closing in on that goal of 7,000.
Charlie Gant counted 54 raptors yesterday including a decent Red-tail
flight.
Others from today:( 31 species total )
1 Common Loon
16 Purple Finch- many vocalizing, Pine Siskin
Large flocks of Bluebirds, Robins, Flicker and Cedar Waxwings. In fact,
an adult Coops came screaming into the clearing to bomb Bluebirds and
Flickers that were foraging on the meadow- such a rackit of alarm calls
you`ve never heard.
2 unid. black not quite duck types I wanted to call Scoter but not good
enough at them in flight.
Leslie Fisher
Cecil Co