While birding Blue Mash Nature Trail this morning (my first visit), I
got a brief look at a RED-SHAFTED FLICKER, presumably the same bird
reported yesterday by Tom Marko. I was on the trail at the first pond
from the Zion Rd parking area. The bird was flying north. The red flash
from the underwings was clearly visible through binoculars for two
beats before the bird disappeared behind the tree line. Hard to judge
how long I had the binoculars on it, but probably not more than 1-2
seconds.
I almost missed the flicker entirely because I was so entranced by the
large flock of CHIMNEY SWIFTS swooping around the pond.
Shortly after passing a group led by Rick Sussman (thanks, Rick and
crew, for the RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH), I spotted a NORTHERN HARRIER. I
also saw what I'm calling a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK -- only seen for a
second or two looking toward the sun at a bad angle, and the only field
mark seen was the squared-off spread tail, so I'm not completely sure
it wasn't a Cooper's Hawk.
Jack Saba
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