West Seattle Wednesday: Triangle; school sign-ups; produce…

(Bird experts – what’s this? Early Monday am Seaview photo courtesy Chris Johnson)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, for today/tonight:

TRIANGLE TO COUNCIL: City Council Committee on the Built Environment hears presentation on West Seattle Triangle proposals, including potential extensive rezoning, 9:30 am. Live on Seattle Channel online and cable channel 21. Agenda and presentation links are in our preview story.

MOBILE SIGNUPS FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Community Resources on Wheels hits West Seattle streets to help parents register their children for Seattle Public Schools and get information on a variety of area resources for families. The bus will visit from 11 am – 2 pm at Westwood Village Target, 2800 SW Barton. Parents and caregivers who plan to enroll their student in school should bring the following: Birth Certificate (K-1st grade only); immunization information; current proof of Seattle residence (utility bills, lease, DSHS; shelter/transitional housing letter); admission form (parents can fill out in advance at seattleschools.org or it will be available on the bus) and photo ID of parent/guardian. For more information, visit the website or call the SPS Service Center at 206-252-0760.

INFO ON SERVICES FOR DISABLED SENIORS: “What is PACE?” at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St), 12:15 pm. If you know someone over 55 with disabilities, they may qualify for some of these services: prescription drugs, dental or vision care, long term care, home health nursing etc. Drop-ins welcome.

FRESH PRODUCE, SOLD WHERE IT’S GROWN: 3rd week of the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm, 32nd SW and SW Juneau. This is a weekly stand selling seasonal fresh organically grown produce right in the garden where the produce is grown. More details here.

Caprial July 27, 2011 (8:50 am)

Could it be a “chicken hawk”? lol.

Kelly July 27, 2011 (9:02 am)

The Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawks are two common neighborhood birds of prey that look like this. That’s my guess–but I’m sure a better birder will weigh in!

dbsea July 27, 2011 (9:03 am)

A Merlin, maybe? Or an ostrich.

Petert July 27, 2011 (9:10 am)

Looks like a juvenile Red-Tail Hawk…

Mitch July 27, 2011 (9:16 am)

It’s a sharp shinned hawk. And yes, it is called a chicken hawk by farmers.

Bill July 27, 2011 (9:19 am)

It’s a Peregrine falcon. It’s probably a young bird as they don’t usually take to the “lowlands.” Their domain is high in tall trees or high in the sky.

Trileigh July 27, 2011 (9:51 am)

I don’t think that’s a peregrine – looks like an immature Cooper’s Hawk to me. Although it could be a Sharp-shinned Hawk, since it’s pretty hard to tell the difference sometimes. For those who say it’s a Sharpie: what features are you looking at?

WSB July 27, 2011 (10:32 am)

The folks who shared the pic sent a few others. When I get a chance, I’ll upload a couple more and put the URLs here, since this turns out not to be an ornithological slam-dunk after all :) Thanks for helping! – TR

sydney July 27, 2011 (10:19 am)

I was really leaning towards Cooper’s but it’s hard to tell with this angle… I see sharp-shinned hawks quite often.

lucky chick July 27, 2011 (10:21 am)

Juvenile Cooper’s hawk. Mitch, I’m basing that on the large head relative to body, white pattern on chin, and the greater probability of Cooper’s being here this time of year.

Mark Ahlness July 27, 2011 (10:33 am)

I’m with Mitch – a Sharpie

lucky chick July 27, 2011 (10:54 am)

Huh. I might revise to Sharpie. The streaking seems a little heavy for a Cooper’s. Maybe his cheeks are just puffed out. A photo of the legs would clinch it!

sydney July 27, 2011 (11:43 am)

I’m with lucky chick, immature Cooper’s (based on the breast pattern)

Norma July 27, 2011 (11:48 am)

I’m not an expert but the tail feathers and beak look like sharpie photos I checked. Isn’t it wonderful to be talking about this beautiful bird instead of crime?

WSB July 27, 2011 (11:51 am)

here are some other pix.
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Crater-lake-S8100-July-2011-043.jpg
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https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Crater-lake-S8100-July-2011-046.jpg
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https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Crater-lake-S8100-July-2011-048.jpg

lucky chick July 27, 2011 (11:53 am)

I actually think the breast looks more like Cooper’s but the head (size) and chin (streaking) more like Sharpie. Regarding tail and bill, there’s too much overlap between species to tell. The features to look at (for the rest of you nerds who are enjoying this as much as me) are: relative head/body size, legs, how heavy the streaking on breast is, and how far down the belly the streaking extends.
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Yep, a nice distraction from crime!

lucky chick July 27, 2011 (12:08 pm)

Whoa,I’m back to Cooper’s! Streaking ends pretty high on belly. Thanks for the additional photos!

dbsea July 27, 2011 (12:09 pm)

“Yep, a nice distraction from crime!”

Unless, of course, it’s just casing somebody’s house. Kinda shifty looking, if you ask me.

lucky chick July 27, 2011 (12:12 pm)

Looks like the kid who tried to sell me magazines, now that you mention it. Lock the doors.

westseattledood July 27, 2011 (12:28 pm)

My $.02: Those additional shots make me think Cooper’s based on size of head. But it appears pretty puffed up in the shots – the unpuffed profile of either Cooper or Sharpie is more slender, which usually helps me discern the head size. I would default to that marker rather than immature feather markings.
In other words…tough call for an enthusiastic amatuer :)

Caprial July 27, 2011 (1:24 pm)

So, after all this dialog, are we back to “chicken hawk”? That’s what it is….
And, I agree that its refreshing not to be talking about crime or coyotes.

Mitch July 27, 2011 (1:32 pm)

There can be quite a bit regional variation in both birds, but after looking a little more carefully, I’m changing my vote to Cooper’s Hawk.

JoAnne July 27, 2011 (4:01 pm)

It is a Coopers Hawk.

Cheryl July 27, 2011 (6:57 pm)

My vote is still (mostly) for a Sharp shinned hawk. Sharpies LOVE to hang out near bird feeders for the free “snacks” (i.e. other birds). I have had them in my yard often, Cooper’s? Not so much.
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Best tell-tale sign is the eyes. Adult Sharp-shinned Hawks have red eyes, Cooper’s have yellow. Sharpies also have very straight, evenly lengthed tail feathers by comparison to Cooper’s…
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But agree they are VERY similar birds, and these photos don’t make it easy to tell. Back to Chicken Hawk it shall be!

lucky chick July 27, 2011 (8:47 pm)

I’m leaning back toward Cooper’s. Heavy streaking that ends above the belly, white chin.
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And Cooper’s certainly DO hang out in backyards and at feeders, and they are far more common here in summer than sharpies. This is a juvenile, and juveniles have yellow eyes, so the eye color is no help. Adults of both species have red eyes. And all juvies have funny rectrices (tail feathers) compared to adults, so that’s not much help either. Even in adults and in the hand, it’s hard to see the difference in tails.
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Still, while the head looks big compared to the body (Cooper’s), the body looks bulkier for its size (Sharpie). Darn. Tough to tell. And individuals vary a lot.