I arrived in San Diego (SD) on December 1 1999. On the December 18 Christmas Bird Count we saw a hawk lift off and soar upward and gaining altitude - to be higher than our position. The bird was a female NG. The bird drifted slowly toward the zoo. We watched the bird drift and glide in inactive flight; wing beats were deep and relaxed; dorsal area was brown. Location- Colima Park (parking lot) 11 am. The observers were Mary Beth Stowe and Ed Wallace. Observation time approximately 1 to 2 minutes.





December 24 7:30 a.m. Garnet St. and the Rose Creek Inlet.


1 perched, immature male NG; on the top of a high telephone pole. The bird had a small, round head; thick, extensive, dark streaking; dorsal area was very dark- nearly black. The bird went to perch on the telephone pole on my side of the road. The bird dropped to grab some kind of prey. As the bird was dropping,with extended wings, toward the evergreen shrubs, I noticed the large arm-small hand. The bird flew away, 20 to 30 yards through the trees.





December 26 2:00 p.m. Rose Creek and Grand Ave.


1 female NG: came off the Clairmont Hills (near the Spanish Church). The bird came down to the flat area, however the buildings blocked my view. About 5 minutes later, as I was walking back to De Anza RV Park (RVP) the bird appeared. She was spiraling upward toward an elevation of about 5,000 feet. Then she headed for Fiesta Island.





December 28 12:30 p.m. soaring off of Clairmont Hills.


1 female NG.





January 3 2000 10:00 a.m. Costco parking lot (Morena Blvd.)


1 female NG, soaring overhead.





January 4 2000 3:oo p.m. SDGE Plant, on Santa Fe St.


I was waiting for raptors to roost. 1 female NG went across the gap; from the Clairemont Hills to Muir Hills. At the base of this gap is Interstate 5.





January 5 2000 3:05 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. RVP beach.


I was looking into the gap; 1 NG; much flapping and rising; sex ? My scope was not as efficient as my binos, because of the foggy conditions.