Today, while conducting the Tridelphia CBC in the Gum Springs area 
(where the ICC is supposed to cut right through the Paint Branch), we 
watched an immature Red-Tailed Hawk flying for quite some time, and s/he 
had leather tresses hanging from her/his legs.  The bird was up in the 
air long enough that we don't believe s/he was with a falconer (of 
course, we could be wrong about that), so we wondered if anyone in 
Maryland is missing their Hawk (or alternately, practicing in South 
Eastern Montgomery County)?  One of my friends took several very good 
digital photographs of the bird that I could have him send if it would 
aid in any identification.  Unfortunately, none of the pictures were 
close enough to reveal any leg bands.

Laura Appelbaum
Cloverly, MD