[va-bird] 4 hawk day

Birders,

Monday at Huntley Meadows park was great for critters as well as birds.  The 
unconcerned deer I passed on the way to the pond should have been an indication 
that this would be a special day!  My heart skipped a beat as I spotted a 
bright, mostly white raptor high in a tree on the north side of the park.  
Snowy owl?  Nay; it must have been a goshawk or harrier as it had a few gray 
feathers on its back.  While looking at it, a red-shouldered hawk flew through 
my field of vision, chased by a blackbird!  

After about 2 hours with whitey the darkness forced me to leave,
but not before being distracted by noises from the pond. Sitting atop the tower 
I saw 2 otters and 2 beavers!  One otter put on an olympic swim demo as it 
caught 3 fish and dined on them within 30 yards of the deck!  The beavers were 
as close. 

List:

Canada goose -- 100 +
green winged teal -- 9
mallard -- 25 +
sharp-shinned hawk -- 1
goshawk (?) -- 1 
red-shouldered hawk -- 2
hairy woodpecker -- 1
A. crow -- 5
Carolina chickadee -- 5
red-winged blackbird -- 45 +
fox sparrow -- 1
song sparrow -- 2
white throated sparrow -- 4
(many other small birds heard but not i-d'ed)

doe -- 1
beaver -- 2
river otter -- 2

Best,
Harry Gurkin
Arlington





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