Birders,
Andy Martin called me this afternoon to tell me that she was watching a
Rough-legged Hawk at the Short-eared Owl spot along Rectortown Road just
west of the village of Rectortown, VA. I joined her and we watched the
Rough-legged Hawk gliding and hovering over the fields. We were looking
north from the Edgecliff Farm parking area across several fields to a barn
with a red roof. (not the close barn to the west) The hawk was hunting in
the fields in front of the barn from two tall white sycamores at the
eastern edge of the field all the way across to a red silo on the western
edge. At one point, the hawk perched in the brushline and we had great
looks at its light head and bib and dark belly. When it was flying and
hovering, the light tail, dark belly, and dark wrist patches were evident.
Two Northern Harriers, one a gray ghost, were also hunting; a Red-tailed
Hawk cried in the sky; a Common Raven croaked, and a pair of Red-shouldered
Hawks sat close together on a branch of a tall pine along the road. As we
watched the Rough-legged Hawk while perched, we could see Northern Harriers
hunting in the background. A third Red-shouldered Hawk was also perched in
the brushline.
We began watching the hawk about 4 PM. At about 5:20 PM, after being
harassed by a Northern Harrier, the Rough-legged flew east, and I departed.
I know I should have waited for the Short-eared Owls, but I was frozen
solid, and I had had a totally thrilling experience and magical experience.
Linda Millington
Upperville VA
