ML96084281
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult, Unknown sex - X
Observation details
At 1241 I spotted a Buteo distant and high E or ENE of me, circling over the hills N of the stream, apparently on a thermal (while I was between the rocky draw and the diversion). Relatively pointy wings; agile; not big enough or heavy enough for a GOEA but with underwing color pattern like TUVU or GOEA with dark underwing coverts and lighter (grayer?) flight feathers. Not much if any dihedral. Shape, flight style, and color immediately stood out to me as something different. Thought I maybe glimpsed some white on the tail above as it turned. After circling for a few minutes and getting even higher, it glided N a short distance and began circling again near another Buteo, both so high and distant that I lost sight of them there (NE of me). Last seen at 1244. I was able to get some photos before it disappeared; they show a distinct, broad transverse white band running through the tail ventrally (and also dorsally?), pointing solidly towards BWHA. This plus the dark trailing edge of the wing point to an adult. From this sighting it seems likely that this bird was in active migration.
Technical information
- Model
- COOLPIX P900
- ISO
- 100
- Focal length
- 178 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/5.6
- Shutter speed
- 1/800 sec
- Dimensions
- 1707 pixels x 1374 pixels
- Original file size
- 198.32 KB