Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch, Fall 1999
Date:   08-31-99

Greetings all:

Yet another amazing day on the hill! This is already shaping up to be an incredible season. Yet another two STKI's on today's list...but for a change, even the spectacular STKI's weren't the most exciting birds today! I'll let Joel's narrative explain why:

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Patty,

The unusual raptors just keep coming (and as usual I missed the excitement
by taking a day off). Today at 10:30 am Chuck Brittain found a Ferruginous
Hawk, confirmed by Fernando Rincon. This bird came in low and flapping, at
one time it was at eye level at about 1200 feet out. As it powered over
the hill to the west all field marks of an adult light phase were easily
seen. Yes, of course two more Swallow-tailed Kites today, our total more
than doubles our previous years high. But the hawk of the day went down as
a UB although it came by close enough for good views. Very white throat
and body, two-tone wings with black primaries and white wing coverts, tail
short and dusty white. Possible White-tailed Hawk, maybe a Swainson's with
an unusually short tail, or maybe a Short-tailed Hawk????? Fernando is 80%
to 90% sure, but that is not enough to get on the list.

2 Swallow-tailed Kite (a pair at 10:45 am with 87 MIKI) (total STKI for season=17)
451 Mississippi Kite
1 Broad-winged Hawk
2 Swainson's Hawk
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Ferruginous Hawk (adult light morph)
1 Unidentified Buteo

Total 459

Counter: Fernando Ramos
Watch Coordinator: Joel Simon

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We're eating chocolate at home during the week as fast as we can, guys!

Cheers,
Patty Beasley
Joel Simon
Fernando Ramos
and the rest of the HBHW cast and crew