SCOTT SAULSBURY (www.columbiapacific.blogspot.com) “saw this huge shape in a tree across the street from my house when I drove up” Tuesday. “Fortunately it tolerated me long enough to be able to take a few shots (pictured). So, what is it?”

Could it be a RED-TAILED HAWK? Maybe. “My neighbor guesses a wingspan of about 4 feet,” Scott reported, “and I don’t doubt it. It’s big, but not eagle big.'”

It’s also wounded. “My neighbor said that this one was missing a flight feather.’ Well, yeah, that, and about 20 percent of its left wing. It’s extremely easy to recognize in flight.”

“Looks bigger than most of the red tails that I’ve seen,” Scott added, “though it kind of sounds like one.” But “as it flew away, I did see a flash of reddish brown on the underside of the tail.”

Elleda Wilson