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Subject:

Gos?

From:

James Tyler Bell

Reply-To:

James Tyler Bell

Date:

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:02:55 -0800

My friend Paige and I went out to scope waterfowl at Beverly Beach at the end of Rt. 214 in Anne Arundel. Nothing out of the usual reported previously from there or Thomas Point. While we were scanning the water, I noticed a large raptor coming in from somewhere over the water. I assumed it was an eagle out from a fishing foray. As it approached, naturally in the direction of the sun giving only a backlit silhouette, I knew right away it was an accipiter. I noticed how massive it seemed.  Long, rounded tail, heavy chested appearance. It appeared to be about the size/bulk of a Red-tail though the tail was clearly wrong for buteo. I don't have much experience with Northern Goshawks but I've seen plenty of Sharpies and Coops and this was not one of them! Anyway, I'm not entirely comfortable with the ID. If only we could have seen a white eyeline.

We drove through the various street in Beverly Beach but never saw it again. It came in off the water and never appeared to slow down. I'll be looking around SERC for it since there's a lot better habitat here than at Beverly Beach, which isn't that far away as the gos flies.

Tyler Bell

California, Maryland