Unidentified bird

Josh Hayes wrote:
> Bob Baldwin <bob-baldwin.TakeThisOut@tamu.edu> wrote in news:zIvji.4102$Oz7.2468
> @newsfe19.lga:
>
>> I saw soaring hawk like bird this morning while walking the dog in
>> Bryan, Texas (east of Austin, north of Houston). I have not been able to
>> identify it in bird books, or the internet. My eyes aren't good, and
>> didn't get a good look, but it appeared to have a white head, dark
>> below, and white on top, near the tail. There were also several buzzards
>> circling nearby. I see hawks nearly every day, but have never seen a
>> bird like this. It is not a bald eagle or osprey. The closest I have
>> found is a caracara, but it had distinct accipiter type wing tips and
>> long narrow tail. It was also a large bird, easily as big as the
>> buzzards. Any ideas?
>>
>> bob baldwin
>> bob-baldwin.TakeThisOut@tamu.edu
>> wa5jot.TakeThisOut@suddenlink.net
>>
>
> Bob,
>
> For what it's worth, I've seen caracaras near Bastrop, east of Austin, in
> the 1980's; what with global warming and the fact that it's July anyway,
> it's certainly a possibility - and of course, they're as big as or bigger
> than turkey vultures (which is probably what you mean by "buzzard",
> right?). Might want to carry some binocs the next few dog walks in case you
> see it again.
>
> -Josh
Josh,
Thanks for the reply! I should have said "vultures", but I don't know
all the different types, so I just group them together with a slang
term. Not good, I know. I walk the dog twice a day, every day, and I
have never seen a bird just like this. This time of year, it might be
young, but with the white looking head? We have bald eagles out at lake
somerville, and ospreys at lake bryan, on the edge of town. It wasn't
either of those. About a month ago, I was taking pictures of my martins,
and one of the local hawks swooped down, caught one and landed in the
street. I never thought to get a picture before it flew away with the
martin. Guess I'm just not cut out to be a birder. Anyway, if I can
identify the bird, I'll let everyone know. Thanks again,

bob baldwin
bryan, texas
 >> Stay informed about: Unidentified bird 

Bob Baldwin wrote:

> ... I never thought to get a picture before it flew away with the
> martin. Guess I'm just not cut out to be a birder. Anyway, if I can
> identify the bird, I'll let everyone know. Thanks again,

If you enjoy looking enough to want to know what you're looking at,
you're a birder.

Jerry
--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.
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