[birding] Corvallis mystery raptor.

[Marcia F. Cutler]

Earlier this evening I talked to a lady who lives near the end of  
McKinley Ave.  She said that there's been an very large raptor hanging  
around the area for the past two weeks.  She thought it was a Golden  
Eagle.  According to her it had feathering completely down its legs,   
gold in the breast, large, dark eyes and an absolutely huge bill,  
which she said was a neutral, colorless color. She thought it looked  
like about 3 feet in height when standing.  She appears to be familiar  
with Red-tailed Hawks saying that they used to nest in the  
neighborhood, but she hasn't seen them in the last few years.  She  
also saw a Golden Eagle last winter at Finley.  The bird is noisy and  
active, particularly early in the morning but also throughout the day  
and early evening, tho it wasn't there (yet) this evening.  One day  
she saw it eating a rat on the ground.  I asked if anyone had taken  
any pictures of it and she said a neighbor had when it was eating the  
rat, but unfortunately he then accidentally filmed over what he had  
taken, thus erasing it. She also said that when it was flying carrying  
the rat, another raptor, possibly a Peregrine Falcon, was chasing it.

I mentioned the possibility of an immature Bald Eagle.  I've seen a  
Bald Eagle flying over Witham Hill.  Someone also told me several  
years ago that he believed Bald Eagles were nesting in the area  
between Bald Hill and Fitton Green.  However, the Witham Hill area  
seems an odd place for a Bald Eagle to be hanging around in.

I told her that I'd post her report (as best I can remember it) on the  
local birding list serve and see if anyone could check out her report  
and figure out what the bird is.

Marcia F. Cutler
Corvallis