Date: 10/19/26 5:39 am From: Sandy Cash (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Suspicious raptor at ARNWR (was Re: Juvenile dark-morph Swainson's at Kiptopeke VA)
While leading a Wings Over Water trip yesterday at Alligator River, I got a
very brief glimpse of a raptor that I suspect was a Swainson’s, but the
look was far too brief for me to get sufficient detail, and I did not
include it on the checklist. This was at the second or third impoundment
heading West on Sawyer Lake.
-Sandy
Sandy Cash
Carrboro, NC, USA
On Wed, Oct 7, 2026 at 10:22 AM Alan Meijer <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> I know this isn't a bird in North Carolina at the time of its sighting but
> a juvenile dark m-morph Swainson's Hawk was observed at the Kiptopeke
> hawkwatch yesterday. Also, two Swainson's were seen at Cape May yesterday,
> including a juvenile dark morph, possibly the same bird. They are headed
> south so keep your eyes open. We've occasionally had one at Alligator River
> including last year.
>
> There is a photo of the bird on Facebook. Just head to the page for the
> coastal Virginia wildlife observatory.
>
> Alan
>
>
> ______________________
> Alan Meijer
>
