[va-richmond-general] FW: What Hawk is This?

Would anyone have any idea what bird Leah may have seen?  Leah is a long-time 
member of Richmond Audubon.

-----Original Message-----
From:   Leah Lore Gabsky [SMTP:lgabsky@xxxxxxxx]
Sent:   Sunday, September 08, 2002 9:11 AM
To:     Robin.Ruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc:     s.ridd@xxxxxxx
Subject:        What Hawk is This?

Hi Robin
        August 13 I first saw a hawk sitting on top of the wooden structure that
holds gourds for Purple Martins   The second time I saw him he flew down
on the grass by a bush.  The third and last time I saw him was last
Wednesday September 4.  I happened to be sitting at the kitchen table
with binoculars handy and had an excelent view of that beautiful hawk. He
was a small hawk but bigger than an American Kestrel. He flew down on the
lawn maybe 40'  from our bird feeder.  His breast, back and his wing
feathers above and below were black and white stripes of maybe 1/4 to
3/8inch.  His tan colored head feathers extended down to his neck.  He
was magnificent with all those contrasting definitely black and white
feathers in perfect uniformity.  The tan feathers on his head were not
just cut off in a circle on his neck  but some extended in groups a
little longer than others and sort of tapered to a rounded point.  I
believe his tail was rounded.  I was so abscessed with his beauty I
didn't do a very good job of scrutinizing him for identification,
although I had that in mind too.  His beauty was astonishing!    He
looked like no other hawk I've seen before and has to be a stranger to
our area.  Incidentally, I live at 3891 Darbytown Road, Richmond, in east
Richmond near the airport.
        I'm leaving for California in the morning with no particular return date
but will be home before October 12.  I will be without access to e-mail
but would enjoy having any messages awaiting my return regarding any
other citings of this hawk  or possibly a hint of what he might be. 
Surely, he couldn't be a female with his astounding beauty.  
        
                                                       Leah

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