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Subject:

fair weather raptors (DC)

From:

Carrol Cowan

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 2 Jan 2005 00:32:06 +0000

I was pulling out a beach chair to sit on the roof & enjoy the balmy afternoon when I heard a Red-shouldered hawk calling.  Actually, I'd come to think of "the" red-shoulder, assuming I had been seeing the same one around the neighborhood (Rock Creek at Q Street) repeatedly.  However, today there were 2, circling, calling & chasing each other.  

One lit in the top of a tall sycamore across Massachusetts Avenue while the other continued soaring & circling.  I lit in my chair & read the funnies.  When I realized there was no longer a hawk in the sycamore I started scanning the sky.  One Red-shoulder was still up there, along with a Turkey Vulture and an adult Red-tail.

When I first started watching the r-s the wind was kicking up occasional gusts & one r-s had its wings in a distinct dihedral.  To counter the buffeting effect?

--
Carrol Cowan
Washington DC
arielamcATatt.net