With all of the beautiful weather we have been having lately, who can resist sitting outside on the porch or in a garden chair taking in the beauty of Nature? I know that I personally cannot resist; so, when summer reading comes a calling, outdoors is where you will find me.
Last week, on a particularly nice day, whist I was engrossed in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, I heard a sudden and piercing scream (of a bird that is…phew!). Throwing Anna aside and whipping out my binoculars, I saw a terrified Starling being F-16ed after by a speedy hawk, ready for the kill (watch out, little chipmunks!). The Starling tried its hardest but, we are now one Starling short. The hawk swooped in a dramatic whipping and flashing of wings and pinned its unfortunate prey to the ground. Luckily for me—and rather unluckily for the Starling—the hawk briefly stayed on the ground as the bird died, which gave me a chance to see what species of hawk it was.
It was a species I had never encountered previously: with a cream-colored stomach, light brown feathers in the back, little prominent spotting on the breast, and bare yellow legs. Before I could see any more, the mysterious predator had disappeared with its prize. With Tolstoy abandoned for Stokes, I got to work on identifying this magnificent raptor. The result I came up with was the female Northern Harrier. It was the closest match in appearance and size, as well as the description of the hunting flight. They do live in this area during the summer, and are seen by grasslands and marsh/pond areas. These beautiful birds are distinguished by their long tail, black tipped wings, white rump, and low, fast flight during hunting.
You would think that after reading dozens of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books, I would be a better detective. However, I am sorry to say that with only my quick glimpse, the identity of the mystery hunter just might remain anonymous.
If you have an idea of what this mystery bird may be, or if you have questions, comments, and observations in general, you can always contact me at chickadee@att.net
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