Date: 3/12/25 5:38 pm From: DAVID KOCH <0000012d74227426-dmarc-request...> Subject: Rough-legged hawk, Koch property, Northampton County
Around 4:30 this afternoon I drove around our fields, not expecting to see much of anything considering the time of day and the relatively warm temps. And I didn't until I got down to the driveway along our creek and saw a hawk perched about 15 ft up in a tree. It was a sideways back view and all I was sure of was that it wasn't an adult redtail. But then it flew down to the ground, poked around a bit, and finally turned around to face me. And I was both surprised and grateful to see a juvenile rough-legged hawk, a species I've seen many times at hawk watches, especially when I was a counter at Hawk Mountain, but I have only occasionally seen one here, especially one hunting around on the ground. After about 5 minutes of my watching it an adult redtail came in and strafed it. At first it flew up but then it circled around and landed right back where it had been. But a few minutes later it flew off in an easterly direction.
Other notable species present include a sharp-shinned hawk that hunts both our fields and our yard, tree sparrows in the yard, and continuing purple finches, a species that's been here all winter.
Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County <davilene...>
