I had a very unusual hawk perch on the  snag overlooking
the fields on Monday.

When I couldn't recognize it immediately, with binoculars, I risked
getting the scope and was able to look pretty carefully.

Brown, midsize, with dark streaks on the chest,  and belly.
White eyebrow, weak moustacial stripe. When it turned
slightly I could see the back was a uniform lightish brown.
Undertail was barely marked, just a few pale brown spots towards
the edges.

The most distinctive feature was the pale, pale legs. They looked
almost white. Or very pale grey. Unfeathered. The beak was also a
pale colour, not yellow. Big dark eye with yellow iris.

It flew after about 15 minutes, and it dropped right behind the trees.
I never got a look at the bird
in flight to se the underwing patterns. I've combed through the books
and see light blue legs associated
with several juvenile birds. Rather exotic ones for my fields.  Any
suggestions
informed by experience?

Inga Schmidt

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