Hello,
I and about seven other people had excellent views of the immature
Swainson's Hawk today. I arrived about 12:15 to find three people already on
the bird. Until about 12:50 we all had killer looks as the bird made a circuit
centered on our location.
We were parked at the southern end of the lot owned by the Dr. How's
Automotive repair company. This is on the west side of route 9W, maybe 100
yards north of the Sunoco station. The bird would perch on trees just to our
southwest, maybe 60 feet from us. At times it would fly across 9W and perch on
poles or short trees just to the north of the thruway off ramp. Then it would
fly farther north towards the motel, soar, return to our side, etc. On one
occasion it landed in the grass just to our south, resembling a cross between a
Burrowing Owl and a Prairie dog. It was then perilously close to south bound
traffic on 9W.
Around 12:50 it flew north on the east side of 9W toward the motel and truck
stop parking lot. This seemed to be just another part of its loop, but we did
not see it again. I left about 1:15. Don't know what happened after that.
For those coming from Westchester or Putnam County, a good route is to go up
the Taconic, take route 82 to 23, cross at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, and get
on 9W. Don't need the thruway at all.
Bob Lewis
Sleepy Hollow NY
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