Yesterday afternoon about 3 O' Clock I observed from the parking lot at the
visitor's center at Blackwater refuge, along with an adult bald eagle and a
soaring turkey vulture, a very unusual  soaring buteo.  At first I could not
make out the bird, but as it came around again in the sun, I could clearly
see that it had clear rufous patigial markings on both wings. Otherwise it
was almost unmarked on the lower (ventril) surfaces. The entire body and the
wings (except for a bit on the primaries  on the ends of the wings) was a
uniform, unmarked, pale cream color.  It had a uniform VERY pale pinkish
tail. It was clearly a Red-tailed hawk; Though, unlike any other Red-tailed
hawks I remember seeing.   It was NOT a leucosistic (albino) bird, which I
have seen  at other times. My first thought was of a bird I had heard
described, and seen in raptor slide presentations, but never seen in person:
a "Krider's" (pale morph of B.j. borealis) red-tailed hawk.  I did not have
any specialized raptor ID books with me, but as soon as  I got home, I
checked my "*Raptors of Eastern North America*," by Brian Wheeler (Princeton
University press, 2003).  His photo /plate  #322, on page 281 is almost
exactly like the bird I saw at Blackwater.  Wheeler describes the
characteristics of a "Kriders," on page 255. They seem to match what I saw.
Wheeler also notes,  (p.268) that "Krider's"  have been observed as
extralimital in the East during Fall and Winter.  He lists several Eastern
sightings; none in Maryland.  I think the bird I saw was probably a
"Krider's" Red-tailed hawk.  I cannot think of, or find in Wheeler, any
other  Red-tail with pale cream, unmarked ventril plumage that would match
what I saw.  I did not have a camera with me, so I do not have any photos .
But, anyone at Blackwater, or in that area, over the next few days,might
keep and eye (and a camera) out for this bird. I would also be interested in
other opinions or options for the bird I saw and have described here.
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.