Swainson's Hawk - Kent Forward
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Pescadero Creek Rd.-- Butano Creek riparian area
San Mateo, California, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 37.2498277, -122.395329
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified
Behaviors
Flying

Observation details

Large hawk initially seen circling with a Red-tailed Hawk high up, what first got my attention was the lack of patagial bars, then fortunately it was coming my way and soon I could note its structurally different shape, long wings very pointed at the tips, pale underwing coverts contrasted notably with dark flight feathers, whitish under tail with dark terminal band. A Northern Harrier then gave it a chase which made for a good comparison of structural differences from that "owl faced" species (a photo of the Harrier also in this list). The Swainson's was seen initially right as I reached the edge of the Marsh during my hike along Butano Creek, it hovered briefly and soared over Pescadero Marsh proper before moving on in a north eastwardly direction.

Technical information

Model
Canon EOS 7D
ISO
800
Flash
Flash did not fire
Dimensions
1108 pixels x 738 pixels
Original file size
72.61 KB