[birding] Forwarded raptor question from Linda Fink

[Joel Geier]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Linda Fink <linda at fink.com>
To: Joel Geier <joel.geier at peak.org>
Subject: midvalleybirding
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:17:55 -0800

Hi Joel,

I can't get a message to midvalleybirding (or to OBOL but I didn't try 
them this time -- gave up long ago on sending to OBOL) so I'm hoping you 
can either just answer my question or send it on to midvalleybirding. 
Thanks!

Here is what I sent:

A couple days ago, I heard a sound I didn't recognize from in front of
the barn. A similar sound started up from the other side of the house. I
could see neither culprit. After a bit, one of the callers erupted into
what sounded like a Cooper's Hawk scold to me. So I taped the sounds and
put them on youtube. Here's the URL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5crdyZjkaJk

I scan back and forth toward where each sound was coming from. After
turning off the camera, I wandered around and finally did see the now
silent hawk in front of the barn. It was high in a leafless maple,
mostly hidden, with its back to me. My impression was the size of a
Cooper's. As soon as I lifted my binocs, it flew down and out of sight,
accipiter-like. Meanwhile, it turned out my husband who was by his shop
behind the house had seen the other hawk and said it "seemed smaller
than a red-tail but had a light front like a red-tail". He did not have
binocs and just noticed that it was making a "weird noise".

So, are they Coopers?

Thanks!

Linda
linda at fink.com