Rough-legged Hawk at Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Gorman

by Thomas Gorman

On the last day of 2010, I decided to make another trip to the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge to not only hike the Liberty Loop trail, but I also had hopes of again sighting many of the wintering and resident raptors at the Wallkill.

The normal wildlife sightings and photo opportunities are always a great experience, and on this day it would prove to be no exception.  One adult Bald Eagle and three female Northern Harriers were present, along with numerous song birds.  After about an hour of capturing shots of many species of wildlife, I noticed a large Buteo Hawk soaring gracefully over the northern end of the trail, and within five minutes it was within range for some pictures. As the hawk came closer, it was clearly evident that it was a Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus).  This was a pleasant surprise, considering that this species is generally a northern hawk, and is an uncommon sighting in New Jersey during the winter.  It is said that they will travel south of their range when there is a lack of food for them.  Recent sightings to NJ Audubon were that Rough-legged Hawks were sighted in Secaucus and Alpha Borough as well.

As “my” Hawk came closer, he apparently spotted something of interest below, and it began its typical hovering activity by rapidly beating its wings up and down, while looking directly below.  Whatever it spotted, it decided to stop hovering and rose to a higher elevation and soared north over the marsh.  Within a few minutes it disappeared into one of the other distant marsh lands.  The Rough-legged Hawk is such a beautifully patterned hawk, and its flight and hovering abilities are an amazing feat to watch.  With this sighting and pictures to support it, I was quite pleased to end 2010 on a positive note.

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