The message below concerns a falcon near the Pentagon, which my friend who
wrote the message has seen regularly this winter.  Anyone commute through or
visit that area?  He thinks there are a pair of Peregrine Falcons where
VA-27 and I-395 merge (near the AF memorial and the Navy Annex?).  He sees
it perching on light posts.

I didn't have the chance while I was in DC to check out the area, and now I
am back in Colorado for the winter (Northern Shrike and Townsend's Solitaire
on my part of the CBC here).

Thanks,

Gary Nelson

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 12:58 PM
To: 
Subject: My favorite hawk

I went back to my old Roger Tory Peterson (1946 edition) and checked again
about the hawk I see frequently where Routes 27 and 395 converge just beyond
the Pentagon.  Given the hawk's slate-blue back and some brown streaks on
its belly (my eyesight is not good enough to see the white strike on his
cheek), and the fact that Peterson says it is about the size of a crow, I am
once more convinced that it's a peregrine falcon, i.e., a duck hawk.  

I saw a kestrel once -- close up, it having been trapped out there at Cape
May -- and my hawk looks nothing like it. The kestrel was one of the most
beautiful birds I have ever seen.  Of course, Peterson says the Kestrel is
about the size of a robin, which I don't believe.  

Just a couple of days ago, I also confirmed (not having seen it for a couple
of years) that my hawk has a mate in the area -- maybe only a
quarter-of-a-mile apart.  

Hope you have a good holiday season, and hope to see you back at the lunches
before long.