tip- naked eye

Learn (practice) observing raptors naked eye. Again, we are talking raptors in flight. If you don't know a bird, then you don't know it! The closer you get to a bird that you don't know, then the additional information you are gathering is in most cases leading you or stringing you out, into an area of even more indecision. I was referring mainly to passerines, or possibly shore birds. So, why waste yer time trying to pull something out of that raptor in flight when you have decided that you do not know that particular hawk. Instead- Lower yer binos and observe naked eye.
As most hawk watchers understand- the best way to cover lots of sky and in a small amount of time is by going naked eye. Binos can certainly be used for scanning deep into the sky and picking out hawks that are so far off that they cannot be observed naked eye. And in some cases (depending on the species), that hawk can be identified, particularly if the hawk is a Goshawk, or an Osprey.
OK, look at this situation: you are driving down the highway, or you are a passenger, a raptor is soaring out there. By the time you pull over to observe, or get out of the vehicle and try and find the hawk, well, many times the hawk is not to be seen. One of the best ways to find and observe raptors perched and in flight is by driving many miles and observing, of course naked eye. Then when stopped, up come the binos. This is the same concept you should use when hunting for Goshawks from a rotating- revolving hawk watch. You want to have as much of a panoramic view as possible. A rotating watch means you gain views in all directions. A revolving hawk watch site works in conjunction with all your other sites. You move to additional sites in order to cover areas that your limited visual acuity cannot cover. The same principle applies to when you are looking for meteorites on open flat terrain and are using electronic devices- you must cover as much ground as possible. So you hook your device to a jeep or ATV and cover ground that way instead of making it on foot. So- curb the urge to be constantly "peeking" through a scope or binoculars.