[EBB Sightings] Raptor (golden eagle???) near trail north of Pt. Isabel

Yesterday, my husband, myself and 2 others watched a large raptor, 
appearing uriiformly dark both above and below?no tail banding, no 
contrast between breast and head, no easily visible pattern on wings 
(the light wasn?t perfect)--make about 20 attempts?unsuccessful--to 
flush a jackrabbit that had pressed itself against the wire fence 
bordering the restored marsh on the trail just north of Pt. Isabel (on 
your right walking north). The raptor?s turns and dives were quite 
ponderous with heavy wingbeats, and we saw it multiple times from many 
angles. The only color variation appeared to be a slight pattern or 
light glint in the upper head/neck area. The raptor was big enough to 
realistically think it could carry off a good-sized rabbit. (The rabbit 
waited a few moments after the raptor gave up and left, then finally 
moved. It had all of our sincere admiration.)

We?re wondering if anyone else saw this bird? The only thing that seemed 
to fit after paging through Sibley many times was golden eagle?immature?

Later on, two other birders showed us a red throated loon that was 
swimming up the channel back toward the bay just north of the 
disintegrating wooden pier.

Good birding,

Joan Bernstein