Marsh Hawk found in large open field along Nisqually Wildlife Refuge trail. There were a few stag trees in the area and standing water visible through patches of grass. The bird was dark brown and smaller than the Red-tailed hawk we saw earlier. It was using a technique called "kiting" where the hawk used wind currents to stay up without flapping its wings. It almost seemed like the bird was simply levitating rather than flying. The hawk used this technique quite a few times when it was looking over the grass land area.
Unfortunately the hawk was too far away to get a picture, but I did get a picture of the area.
A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles or birds.
