Bird #281 — Gray Hawk

buteo (hawk) nitidus (bright, shining)

Sunday, April 1, 1984 — 1:00 pm

Patagonia, Arizona — Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Sanctuary

This bird is one of the specialties of the Sanctuary.  We first spotted it flying to a perch near the top of a very large, very tall cottonwood in the woods along the creek.  We were quite a ways off, but just happened to have a clear view through gaps in the intervening trees.  It perched there looking about.

Later on it took off and soared high above.  It chased a Red-tailed Hawk, giving a loud “keer-er” call. Still later, we spotted three of them flying high over the woods and surrounding fields.

arizona4269

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