Hi everybody,
 Yesterday afternoon was just so beautiful that I spent a bit over an  hour 
staring up into the wild blue watching for raptors. There were calling  pairs 
of Red-shoulders up, and at least one pair of Red-tails kept making their  
appearance, flying and landing in the far woods. An adult (likely female based  on 
size) Cooper's Hawk was soaring over the back yard. Both species of vultures  
were in evidence.
 
The one questionable bird appeared around 3:45 or so, soaring above a  
Red-shouldered Hawk, and actually swooping/stooping on it at one point. It was  not 
another RS hawk. It had the appearance of a large falcon. It was equal in  
size to the RS hawk, but had long very tapered and pointed wings and a flared  
tail, forming a pie shaped wedge which joined the wings at a severe angle. It  
was too high to make out any real color or facial pattern, and backlit the 
whole  time I watched it. My best guess is that it was a Peregrine Falcon, though 
it  seems a bit early for them. I cannot say for sure but that would be my 
best  guess. It soared off to the NW after a bit and so high that I lost sight of 
it.  The Red-shouldered pair remained in the area. Interesting...
 
Has anyone seen a Peregrine swoop at another hawk in flight? I know Merlins  
and Sharpies do this all the time, but I've never seen a Peregrine do it.
 
Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD




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