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.