Morning watch 5-23-11

[Yarak]

By Rochester falcon watcher MAK
First of all I apologize for being so late getting this report posted. Let's just say I've had a couple of issues today that got me way behind. I checked near Times Square,Wilder and Mercury with no sightings. I then went to the east side near Xerox,HSBC and Midtown again with...

Link:
http://rfalconcam.com/falconwatching/?p=1816

[Dumpsterkitty]

My first instinct was this is a red-tail with a VERY light belly band.  Other opinions welcome...my eyes feel about fried...

[Donna]

I don't think it's a Falcon but look how white the breast is! A great pic!

Then again, who am I to say. Looks like a falcon then NOT!

[MAK]

I couldn't decide if it was a hawk or falcon,because the chest certainly doesn't say falcon but the face does. We have so many people on this forum whom are very good at identifying birds I leave this up to them.  ???

[DebInTexas]

To me, it looks to be a partially leucistic red-tailed or red-shouldered hawk; noting the coloration of the head/neck feathers.  It is a beautiful bird, and a nice pic from the distance.

 

[Bonnie]

Peregrine.  Note hood and eyes. Black wing feathers.

[chlosmom]

Expert (????) that i am, i say that is one big beautiful white chested BIRD

[Donna]

A rare find MAK!! 

[Dumpsterkitty]

I keep thinking of something Siobhan Ruck (anyone ever hear from her?) once said...if you look at it from the front and think white football, it's likely a red-tail.

And, although the colors are off-could be the background & the distance-the face looks very much like the bird on the right here...

(photo by Lincoln Karim)

That's Pale Male on the left with the second female from this season...

[MAK]

A rare find MAK!! 

I guess so Donna! 

[Bonnie]

I don't think it looks like the red tail picture.  Check out the hood and eyes far apart.  Cold peregrine all puffed up keeping warm.  Eyes and wings are not like a red tail. Where was the bird?

[MAK]

I don't think it looks like the red tail picture.  Check out the hood and eyes far apart.  Cold peregrine all puffed up keeping warm.  Eyes and wings are not like a red tail. Where was the bird?

  Bonnie, it was on the 16th floor ledge of the Kodak Office Tower. M&K land!

[margaret]

I keep thinking of something Siobhan Ruck (anyone ever hear from her?) once said...if you look at it from the front and think white football, it's likely a red-tail.

And, although the colors are off-could be the background & the distance-the face looks very much like the bird on the right here...

(photo by Lincoln Karim)

That's Pale Male on the left with the second female from this season...

Good call, I think.  I've been looking at MAK's pictures all day.  It's out of proportion for a falcon - IMHO. 
Your description of it "looking like a football"  certainly fits.  You have my vote.

[margaret]

I sent the picture of MAK's find on her watch of 5/23 on to a friend, who shared it with another friend who is an avid birder and photographer. He thinks it may be a Northern Goshawk.    I just looked at some images and the head size, facial markings sure are similar as is the size.  In some images the chest is quite light.  What do you all think?

[Bobbie Ireland]

I sent the picture of MAK's find on her watch of 5/23 on to a friend, who shared it with another friend who is an avid birder and photographer. He thinks it may be a Northern Goshawk.    I just looked at some images and the head size, facial markings sure are similar as is the size.  In some images the chest is quite light.  What do you all think?

Wow! Would that ever be a find for MAK!!