[EBB Sightings] hawk ID

Sharon,

Thanks for getting the word out on a good raptor
sighting.  Northern Goshawk would be extremely rare
for Walnut Creek and the greater bay area.  Hawks are
notoriously difficult to i.d., particularly in the
fall with a large percentage of juvenile hawks showing
various degrees of confusing brown plumages.  

A large female Cooper's Hawk would be the bird most
closely resembling a Goshawk in our area. 
Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk could also
show some resemblence.  Birding without binoculars is
like golfing without clubs.  Un-solicited advice: Keep
a pair of binoculars in your golf bag!

All that is not to say that you didn't see a Northern
Goshawk. I'll be the first one to pack up for the day
and head for Walnut Creek if there are further
reports.

Best regards,

Bob Power
Oakland, CA
 

--- Sharon Marchione 
wrote:

> On 11/17 (around 9:30) in the NorthgateHS area of
> WC, I noticed a very large hawk like bird.  It was
> resting in a mature cedar tree, in close view   
> Also a week earlier, while golfing at Boundary Oaks,
> I sighted a similar large bird, however without
> binoculars I couldn"t  get a good look.  I'm an
> inexperienced birder, but from looking at my field
> guide it appeared to look like a Northern Goshawk.
> Has anyone spotted this bird who could identify it?
> 
> 		
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