A large white bird in the area of 63rd Street and the Raccoon River, and from there east into the Waterbury Neighborhood, has been positively identified by one of our birders, Roy Adolphson, as a red-tailed hawk. I believe it would be considered a "leucistic" bird.
Thursday, Jan. 27, Coralville Dam tailwaters, Johnson Cty., midafternoon: I counted 17 bald eagles from the dam to the bend in the river. At least three were in basic plumage. I took photos and will use those to check my math. Many mallards, but no other ducks among them. A few Canadas. No gulls seen. The mallards and geese were having a very successful fishing day in the rollers. Same day, approximately 4 pm, County Road G28, western Muscatine County: dark-morph rough-legged hawk. Photos taken as the bird left its perch. Back in Des Moines: from Jan. 22 to 24, pine siskins have been numerous, with 21 to 24 birds counted at the feeder in Salisbury Oaks Neighborhood, adjacent to the Bill Riley Trail and Raccoon River. It's entirely possible that there are up to 30 birds, but those rascals flit about a lot and make a better count a little tough. A couple quick photos one day revealed 23 birds on two different nyger feeders. Also have had several visits this winter from a Cooper's hawk. So far, no kills are known. A pair of Cooper's nests somewhere in the area (Des Moines Water Works Park to Ashworth Park or adjacent areas) and have been spotted along the Riley trail and nearby neighborhoods. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
