Ten raptors in five minutes and other early Spring notes

Ten raptors, five species in less than five minutes: Sunday, March 23 was a little breezy and when we went outside to walk the dogs, I immediately spied a soaring raptor that didn’t appear to be an RT; upon closer look (of course no binocs, otherwise it wouldn’t have been there) I am pretty sure from the winds and flight that it was my first osprey of the year (if it was for a “lifer”, I am not sure I could count it).  Seconds after the probable Osprey cruised away toward Waneka (another clue leaning to the fisherbird) a RT seemingly followed him with the wind.  As we walked down the trail an accipiter, most likely one of the local Cooper’s Hawks, whizzed overhead going from south to north. As that disappeared into the trees of my development, I looked back south to see the resident male Kestrel hovering over the field.  Above and beyond him were three raptors soaring high in the sky and then a fourth, much closer and lower flew into the view.  As I scanned the high skies there was an eagle soaring way above it all.  We continued east towards another RT.  As that one flew off on the wind, it calmed a bit and the sky was clear except for a few crows and LBJs; I didn’t see another raptor the rest of walk.

The next morning, the first official day of Spring Break, I took the dogs on an extra-long walk out to check out how the Red-tailed nest was doing.  I had definitely seen them working on it a few weeks ago and it was quite built up and visible, although I hadn’t specifically noticed one near it since.  As I approached, there appeared to be a head sticking out of the nest, but it was still obscured with branches.  So I kept going to get a better view.  When I got a little closer and focused the binoculars I chuckled out loud at the sight of two pointy ears and a Great Horned Owl sitting on the nest instead of the smaller Red-tailed Hawk head I was expecting.  This solved one mystery, as I had been wondering where the GHOs were nesting, since many of us had seen and heard them frequently in the area; however, now I have no idea where that RT pair has chosen to nest.  There are a few nests I am aware of closer to Erie and one off 95^th and Baseline, but I believe there has to be one closer to Rothman and home.

The first spring sightings are coming in.  In addition to my probable first Osprey of the season, the first report of a Colorado Turkey Vulture I am aware of was posted on Cobirders on March 23, flying over Colorado Springs. Burrowing Owls are starting to pop up on the Eastern prairie dog fields where they have been spotted in the past.  I also read that the open spaces northeast 75^th and Lookout have been closed, and I am assuming it is because of the possibility that the owls will return there as I know they were present three years ago (but I am not sure about the last two years). Next, it will be the Swainson’s Hawks returning.

My Dad and I are headed to the Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch tomorrow (Wednesday, March 26).  On decent weather days they had been getting over 20 migrating birds a day, plus around 10 local birds, including a Prairie Falcon that shows up daily.  However, poor weather days have only resulted in single digit birds.  As of now the unpredictable, ever-changing Colorado March weather is forecast to be cloudy but nice Wednesday (I have seen everything predicted from sunny and 70 to snowing).  Maybe I can spy that Ferruginous that has been eluding me this year, but my greatest hope would be get a lifer in a Broad-winged Hawk or a Northern Goshawk.

Late Winter Notes

Well, it appears that the Winter Raptoring period is drawing to a close and I was never able to positively identify a Ferruginous Hawk this Winter, although one was spotted and photographed within Lafayette only a few blocks from where I live.  I did see the greatest number of Rough-legged Hawks I have witnessed in my lifetime.  Both of these species should be heading North as the temperatures rise here.  Nor have I seen a Prairie Falcon or Merlin, nor a Northern Harrier since the turn of the year, all usually more common in Winter. I did hear tales of Snowy Owls and even a Gyrfalcon over the winter, but nothing so extravagant for me.  There did seem to be a lot of Short and Long-eared sightings East, that I will have to follow-up on sometime.

Another sign of spring, the first Burrowing Owls, and even a Broad-winged Hawk, have been spotted on the Eastern Plains.  I did get the first sighting of my neighborhood Cooper's a few mornings ago, putting my 2014 Raptor count at 6 (RT, BE, RL, AK, GHO). Also, "my" Red Tails appear to have taken their nest back, just a little later this year.  Bald Eagles have also been abundant and the Hygiene and many other nests in the area are active.

Unfortunately, my student group's Saturday trip got snowed out March 1.  However, soon the Osprey, Swainson's Hawks and Turkey Vultures will be back so we hope to see all of those on our reschedule in April.

I have really enjoyed watching the local Red Tails fly in and with the wind lately.  I have witnessed a lot of a technique or style lately that is neither hovering nor kiting, but just sitting flat staring right into the wind and staying almost still in mid-air.

I am planning a trip to Dinosaur Ridge with my dad to hang out during the Hawkwatch over my spring Break, so maybe we will notch something cool like a Northern Goshawk or Broad-winged Hawk, or at least a couple of birds I haven't seen yet this year.

President's Day Raptoring

Yesterday, I woke up and took the dogs on a normal "weekend" walk and as I turned north I spotted something soaring in the sky.  I actually, very intentionally this time, had my binoculars and quickly identified the flyer as an RT.  I scanned the trees farther to the north and did something else flying low, from the left, the direction of the nest site, that landed in a nearby tree.  It was impossible to get much in the sun's glare but I headed in that direction.  As I turned east and approached the tree, sighting the bird with my naked eye, I focused in and sure enough it appeared to be another RT. Right then, the other one (I can only assume it was the the same one I had seen soaring above) flew in and landed a few branches over.  I am pretty sure this is the same pair as last year and that they have re-claimed their nest, which appears well-fortified and groomed.  Hopefully they will be on it in a week and a half when I take the kids out there.

Anyway, I figured that was a good omen and when I got home I loaded the scope and the dogs into the car and headed out for an impromptu scouting trip. I started on my usual route by heading north behind Arapahoe Ridge where I saw the first of at least two dozen RTs, down Erie Parkway to County Line-there was a RT on the nest at the cross of Evans-to Kenosha and then west to Lookout Rd.  I saw a Baldie on one of the far off posts, but otherwise the usually very reliable run up Lookout was quiet.  I headed north through Niwot and then over to Lagerman, sighting a Roughie in the field just before the big bend, a few more RTs, then a couple of probable eagles soaring high above the reservoir. I went to Nelson and 75th and checked out the two two nests behind the office park but no activity on either. I then headed in the direction of the Hygiene eagles, seeing numerous RT pairs flying, plus other solos as well as a few Kestrel pairs.  As I neared the eagle nest I could see at least one white head from the distance.  I cruised by the line of scopes to see if anything was west and in the few minutes before I had returned, both eagles had flown away.  The spot at 59th and Hygiene was also unusually quiet but there were many more RTs as I wound around and back toward Longmont.  There are quite a few Osprey platforms out there and I can't wait to see them all filled later on this spring.  I then headed across I-25 all the way to Colorado before heading south.  Finally, I was able to find a few more Roughies east of I-25, plus a Juvie BE soaring and a bunch more RTs. Later, on the way in and out of Boulder I saw yet another four RTs.

To top it off, while I was grilling I heard some hooting so I hooted back and it sounded closer, then there was a return call, and it sounded real close.  I hooted back and the answer came from right out front.  I ran inside and through the house sparking off my dogs, and out the front door and sure enough, one was sitting on top of my front eave, while its partner was three doors down.

All in all a pretty good day with probably close to 40 raptors, with five species, although no new ones for the year.

Raptorology with kids!

For the last few Tuesdays I have run a "Birds of Prey" class/club after school and fourteen 2nd through 5th grade students, plus my friend and colleague Paul, have been having a blast learning about and sharing what we know about the different birds, as well as exploring adjacent Rothman Open Space here in Lafayette. The kiddos have been really excited to learn about specific (mostly locally found) birds ranging from the Red-tailed hawk, American Kestrel, both eagles, to Snowy and Barn owls, to the Harris Hawk and even two boys studying the Northern Goshawk, my personal nemesis bird-I have tasked them with learning everything about the species for my quest.

Depending on weather, we try to go outside each session.  The first two times we only had time for a short trip to the back of the playground for a view of the open space, but without any raptor sightings. Shortly after each one, while walking my dogs I saw a Red-tail and a Rough-legged.  The third session was during the sub-zero spell.  Finally, the fourth class, we went on a longer loop and were treated to both a Kestrel and a Red-tail flying around us for great views.  The girl studying the Kestrel ID'd it immediately and was flying herself.  This type of discovery is the most gratifying aspect of teaching.

The students keep asking when we are going to go further and see more, so we will be taking a longer hour long loop in the Open Space and are planning a Saturday drive through the county to cap off the class.

Roughie note:  Only one winter in the past ten have I seen a Rough-legged hawk in my backyard of Rothman, but this year I have seen three.  This not really irruption, but their prevalence this year anyway has really helped me identify them not just by markings, but also their different style of flying, although it is hard to specifically describe, just not like a Red-tail, nor Ferruginous or Harrier.  I have come to really appreciate them.

In search of more Roughies

Last Thursday my friend Paul and I left school at the 3:20 bell and headed out to check out some possible nest sites in the area and look for some of the Rough-legged hawks that have been almost common this winter. (We are going to lead and after school class about birding and raptors and were doing some "scouting".)  We headed east of Lafayette and then north on 119th and County Line roads, through Erie and finally north on Kenosha and Lookout to 109th before heading home.  The first nest site is within walking distance from school but I have not seen any specific activity on the nest yet, nor was there anything going on there today.  We soon saw a couple of Red Tails perched on high posts and trees.  Not too far down the road we saw a bird on a post and stopped on the narrow roadway to get a look.  It spooked easily and moved a few times, but never too far away. We could never get that for sure deciding look that confirmed it for us but am fairly certain it was a male Roughie.  Not too much farther was another similar looking bird that flew away before we got a good look.  The light was fading and we kept going.  We saw over a dozen birds, mostly likely Red Tails with a few possible Roughies, so a great hour long impromptu outing, before Paul turned east on Jasper to head home.  As I continued South on 109th I came upon a beautiful juvie Roughie (I think really the easiest one to identify) perched on one of those low posts very close to the road.  I tried to get a picture on my phone to send to Paul but the light was not quite sufficient.  As I made my way home, I saw two more Red Tails, likely staking out a nearby nest behind Arapahoe Ridge off the dirt 111th.

Roughies galore!

I went on an impromptu drive yesterday, intending to head east looking for Roughies, Ferruginous and Baldies, but instead ended following birds more north and west.  I headed north through Lafayette and behind Arapahoe Ridge saw my first official Red Tail of the year (surprisingly didn't see one on Wednesday) and set the scope up for the first time.  I headed east and immediately saw a very dark bird so I pulled over and grabbed the scope again, only to realize there was another Red Tail sitting right above me.  As I focused the scope the very dark bird flew and revealed itself as I suspected as a Harlan's.  I jumped in the car and tried to follow it back west but ended up finding a few more Red Tails and Kestrels before heading west on always reliable Lookout.  I had not gone far when I spotted a blob on one of the lower utility posts and immediately thought, "Rough-legged," as they tend to prefer the shorter roadside ones for some reason.  I was able to pull over directly across from it and get a great look. Why didn't I bring the camera?!  I kept on westward and as I crested the hill there was a huge blob in a small tree on the south side of the road-obviously an eagle, but no white head and I assumed juvenile Bald.  Trying to identify juvenile eagles is tough but I am fairly certain I was right as I got a good look at it flying and perched. I turned around and headed back east all the way down Lookout until it comes to a T and jogs right, where there were at least four birds around the field, including a beautiful Roughie who circled overhead for me to get a perfect view.  I zig-zagged through and around Erie, losing count of Red Tails, finding two more Roughies and two different adult Bald Eagles soaring.  Cruising back home down I-25 there were tons of perched Red Tails and probable Red Tails. Final count for the 90 minute drive was about two dozen RTs, 4 Roughies, 3 Baldies and 6 Kestrels (5 male-I read somewhere else that mostly males were being spotted and very few females but not sure of reason).  All in all a pretty successful first outing of the new year!  Happy Raptoring!

End of year post to kick start new year

Well, I didn't end up following through with this one, but am rededicating myself to trying it again and focusing on shorter posts as I see birds or interesting items.  This time of year is always motivating for "raptoring" between a coming new year on the heels of the football season winding down, not to mention the growing number of Ferruginous, Rough-legged and Baldie sightings.  I will also be leading an after school "Birds of Prey" class at school in January and February.

I haven't taken much of a driving tour yet, but I did see my first rough-legged hawk of the season on 287 last week. From the variety of post on various sites on the internet, it sounds like the Roughies are out in abundance this year, although the Ferruginous are still fairly infrequent.
The Red Tail Hawks appear to be guarding their nest East of Rothman Open Space, although I haven't seen them actually on or working on the nest yet.   I am starting to scope out other nest sites as I drive and noticed a Red Tail sitting on a nest at Flatirons Golf Course, near the Northwest corner and easily visible from the car on Arapahoe.
I have seen a few Harriers around Rothman and have seen a GHO a few times, plus there were a few Bald Eagles hanging out on Lookout Road when I drove back from Boulder last week.

However, the best sighting of the winter so far was on the Pearl Street Mall where we happened upon a crowd staring up into the trees and sure enough, there was a fairly large hawk feasting upon a pigeon.  You could see the red flesh in his talons and downy feathers were floating around as if someone had just finished a pillow fight.  At first I got a little excited and thought it might be a young Northern Goshawk, which sometimes stray into town, but after a good look at the general coloration, belly markings, long tail and most importantly, square head, it was definitely a Cooper's and from the conversation among some in the crowd, a frequent visitor to the Pearl Street Pigeon Cafe.

Happy Raptoring!