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From: lbechtle@uceng.UC.EDU (laurie bechtler)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: hOUTDOOR: hovering hunters on highways
Message-ID: <8219@uceng.UC.EDU>
Date: 26 Apr 91 19:27:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: uceng.8219
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati, College of Engg.
Lines: 12

What bird is the most likely candidate for the ones I saw
recently on a highway trip in Ohio?  Due to the gloomy, cloudy
weather, the low light level and backlighting made the birds
look mostly dark with indistinct markings.  (Plus I couldn't
slow down and get a better look!)  Anyway, they were smallish
kite-like birds, hovering (flying into the wind) above the
median strip some 25 feet up.  The candidates from my field
guides suggest a merlin or kestrel, although it seems that
those wouldn't look so uniformly dark.  Maybe the lighting
was just bad enough.  I saw four of them (not together).

Thanks for ideas.