Date: 1/17/26 11:32 am From: Steve Rottenborn via groups.io <srottenborn...> Subject: Re: [southbaybirds] SCVBA Calero Reservoir Field Trip (with unusual hawk)
Good find Ray! The adult, light-morph Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk is still present this morning. Ed Reed and I saw it around 0900 perched in a valley oak on the southwest side of the reservoir at 37.18015, -121.79116. We were standing near the location where Ray and others saw it yesterday, so the bird was very distant, and a scope was necessary to see the extensive white on the head that distinguishes this bird from our local Red-tails. It remained in and around that distant tree for the next several hours. Around 1055, it flew out of that tree and circled around over the southwest side of the reservoir for about 15 minutes. I was able to see the tail well through the scope as the bird soared. The tail was mostly white on the proximal half or so, gradually darkening distally to a messy darker brown/rusty subterminal band; some dark pigmentation extended in a streaky pattern about halfway from that subterminal band toward the base of the tail. Tail patterns of Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawks are highly variable, but this bird’s tail is typical of many individuals.
Steve Rottenborn
Morgan Hill, CA
On Jan 16, 2026, at 8:29 PM, hacksoncode via groups.io <hacksoncode...> wrote:
The moderator of the reddit groups /r/whatisthisbird and /r/birdsofprey seems convinced that the unusual hawk I sent pictures of is a Light Morph Harlen's Red-tailed Hawk.
Some of us discussed that during the walk, but it seemed so rare and out of range that I talked myself out of it.
Anyway, its approximate location was in a tree around here: 37.185676, -121.784770
The first photo was taken from here: 37.186441, -121.783169.
I'll update the eBird list with the info and discuss with the reviewer.
--
Ray
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
