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Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Better Pictures

Two weeks ago we saw a white bird sitting atop a pole - and it turned out to be Leucistic Red Tail Hawk. Not a true Albino - because if it was, 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.


We were down the road and far from the hawk when I realized that my camera had been accidentally set on portrait - and not scenery, as I had intended - and the photos were not the quality I wanted them to be.  I felt bad that I had missed an important chance at a rare bird.

Later that afternoon we went to our daughter and SIL's  house to watch the Seahawks play the 49ers in a playoff game for a chance at the Super Bowl - of course when they won we claimed the victory was because we had seen this unusual bird.  
On Super Bowl Sunday we decided to take a ride, and on the way to Birch Bay we thought we'd go past the spot where we had seen the hawk - and there he was - in a small tree this time - and my camera had the proper setting. 
The coloring and feathers are much more distinct this time. 
A magnificent bird, and what luck that we were there at the exactly right time - he flew away after we'd been there only 2 minutes - just a few minutes either way and we probably would have missed him. 
And then later that afternoon we went to our daughter and SIL's for their annual Superbowl Party - and, well, you all know how the ballgame came out.  Go Hawks!  

8 comments:

  1. Fun connection between the bird and the game. Great shots of the bird. So considerate of him to be there when you returned with your proper camera.

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  2. That's a beauty! I wonder if it is a juvenile? The fluffiness of it suggests that but it is late in the year.

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  3. I'm happy for you that your team won, Joann!

    He is a beauty.

    xo

    Sheila

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  4. What a great game. Your Hawk looks like a bird covered with snow. Speaking of snow we had snifters of it this morning as I drove to the dentist. Has not gone above 30 here and funny when I came out of the dentist it was 50 degrees on Mercer Island. Hated to come home to the cold. Do you have snow?

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  5. During the game they showed the seahawk mascot several times. So majestic. And I thought of your beautiful photos because this is the only place I see such great pictures of pacific northwest hawks!

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  6. The leucistic RTH is magnificent. I'm so glad that you got a chance to get a better photo. Congrats to your Seahawks on their win!

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  7. Wow, that bird was surely waiting for you, as he knew you wanted a proper picture. Synchronicity x x x

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  8. We had a leucistic starling around here one year JoAnn but he didn't last all that long - he was far too easy for a passing hawk to pick out.

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Thanks for stopping by for a visit - I always enjoy hearing from you!