This evening, I got out to do some birding around Cumberland and was
rewarded with some nice FOYs and a surprise. At C&O Canal North Branch
I had FOY NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and a perched BROAD-WINGED
HAWK. Next, I headed to the C&O Canal Terminus in Cumberland. Not many
birds were around, but I did record FOY CHIMNEY SWIFT.

As I was heading back to my car I noticed a raptor circling overhead.
My first impression was Buteo, but then the long banded tail indicated
this was an Accipiter.Over the next minutes I noted this was a large
immature bird with dense streaking underneath. It had a fairly large
head and a tube shaped body with barrel chest. It had a long rounded
tail shorter than on Cooper's Hawk, and broad wings (especially the
wing half closest to the body) with rather pointed wingtips. It also
had very deliberate wing flaps - several at a time followed by  a flat
glide. Its wings seemed nearly straight and very rigid. What a treat
to see a migrating NORTHERN GOSHAWK over Cumberland!

Good birding!

David

-- 
David Yeany II
IBA Program Coordinator
Audubon MD-DC
2437 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 814-221-4361
Email: