peterbats59
Member
I'm an experienced birder, so this isn't guesswork, but I am really stumped. I've been in "lockdown" mode at a friend's place in Hill Country northwest of Austin TX since mid-March. I've seen nearly all of the typically seen resident and migrating raptors for this time of year. But night before last, my friend and I both saw a VERY large raptor, much larger than our Red-tailed and Swainson's Hawks, with a pale breast and body below, dark head, looking nothing like the vultures and other hawks, kites, and caracaras we always see, and with what we estimated at larger than 6-foot wingspan. It was early dusk -- too early in the evening to see the resident Great Horned Owls in the area, and it was not flying like an owl, in any event; it was riding into a stiff breeze, heading away from us, wings occasionally rocking from side to side. The only thing I can come up with was a 2-3 year old Bald Eagle, which we do see here in winter and through early spring, but which should have headed north a good while ago. Any other suggestions would be welcomed, but if folks think it could actually have been a Bald Eagle still in central Texas on May 22, that would be good to know, as well. Thanks for reading.
