***!!!(((Great Black Hawk)))!!!*** [View all]

[jpak]

Checked it off this afternoon.

This is a South American bird.

First sighting ever in North America

It was located at Deering Oaks Park in downtown Portland, Maine.

BIG crowds of birders with many flying in from as far away as California and North Carolina.

Some had the biggest telephoto lenses I have ever seen - Cannon-sized Canons almost 4 feet long and a foot wide.

The bird put on quite a show.

First sunbathing in a large fir tree in full sunlight.

Then it dropped to the ground and stalked about on its long bright yellow legs - it looked like a Secretary Bird.

It disappeared behind a tree and then flew off a short distance with a pigeon it has killed - and commenced to chow down on it.

It's winter here - how will it survive?