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Sunday, January 19, 2014

Not an Eagle

I know I promised you eagles today - but this just couldn't wait.  Driving along today on the way to Birch Bay I spotted something big and white, sitting way off in a field, on a post.  I was thinking it was a Snowy Owl - but in the middle of the day?  Or perhaps an Egret?  We turned around - and parked beside the road - and here is what I saw.  
A Leucistic Red Tail Hawk.  Not a true Albino - because it would have all white feathers, pink eyes, feet and beak.  The Leucistic birds have some albino features and some regular features, with a lack of pigmentation causing some of the feathers to be white.

The hawk was over 200 feet away and this was the best I  could get even with my 140X zoom.  There were ditches and fences along the road so no access to get closer.


Most of my views were from behind, as the hawk kept his back to us most of the time.


But now and then he'd turn to one side and we could see his face. 



What an amazing bird! What an amazing day.

Tomorrow, the eagles.

Saturday's Critters  

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7 comments:

  1. JJanuary 20, 2014 at 6:27 AM

    Another amazing find! What a terrific collection of birds you are accumulating from only three things: your own ambition, your camera and Don, your faithful driver and "encourager!"

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  2. UnknownJanuary 20, 2014 at 8:05 AM

    What a beautiful bird!

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  3. LorrieJanuary 20, 2014 at 8:52 AM

    What a great find. He's a rather haughty looking fellow, isn't it? But so beautiful.

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  4. greenthumbJanuary 20, 2014 at 12:14 PM

    How lovely.

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  5. KayJanuary 20, 2014 at 1:18 PM

    This is something new to me! I didn't know the term before and I don't know if I've seen a leucistic hawk (I may have seen the occasional pigeon and crow now that you've mentioned it). Pretty amazing looking bird. Glad you found it!

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  6. eileeninmdJanuary 20, 2014 at 1:37 PM

    Wow, what a cool looking Hawk! It is a special sighting, I have never seen one like this before. Congrats on the sighting!

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  7. sweetbriardreamsJanuary 21, 2014 at 11:37 AM

    Such magnificent creatures. Wouldn't like to be at the receiving end of their talons though.

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