Date: 10/18/25 10:05 pm From: Noah Rokoske (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Raptor ID bodie island NC
Dear birders,
I request your assistance with the identification of a raptor I observed Oct 18 near the Oregon Inlet Campground at Bodie Island, NC. This bird was seen around midday, first circling rather low over the dunes separating the beach from the campground. My camera was about 15 feet away from me, and by the time I got to it to try for a photo, the bird had caught a thermal and was practically gone. The first thing that struck me about this bird was the wings. They were quite slim and pointed and kept very flat (ie, not a Harrier). At first, I thought it might have been a gull on the wing, but I was able to confirm raptorhood. The underside of the bird was primarily white or pale (it was so far away it was hard to tell), though the wingtips and tail tip were darker (an apparent rufous-brown). There did not seem to be any markings or variations on the underwing other than the darker tips. The tail was rather long and seemed to have a dark ridge or line running down the underside from the rump to the tail tip, with white on either side of this line on the first half of the tail, and the final half being all darker. My overall impression was that of a medium-sized raptor with slightly slimmer and longer proportions (ie, not a Buteo). Perhaps Kite-ish? The bird disappeared generally in a WNW direction, high high above. I was able to take a poor photograph, and if you think it may help with ID, I’ll be glad to send it in, as well.
Thank you, and remember to look up!
