Happy Returns

Upon my return from a three week trip to Brasil I was greeted by a series of local birding sights and signs that assured me all was "normal" around here.  First, as we were driving home from DIA on C-470 we noticed an adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle on the prominent nest along the way, which I thought was a good start, especially considering the mountains were very hazy.  Then, that afternoon, the first time I took the dogs out, I was greeted by both a pair of Swainson's Hawks (likely from the nearby cemetery nest) and a pair of Red-tails (likely from the Michigan/Simpson nest) soaring over Rothman Open Space.

I remembered having received a message while I was gone that my binoculars (which were actually just old and falling apart) were ready at Mike's Camera, so I went in.  I had originally brought them in to see if they could be repaired; they weren't sure but could send them out to a Nikon place in Longmont and it would cost me $25 plus any parts needed.  When they brought up a brand new pair of Nikon Monarch 3s, I was quite surprised but overjoyed.  I had done a little research and they were probably the pair I would buy (that is could actually kind of afford) if I had actually needed a new pair.  My old ones were 10X35 (I think), easy to use/focus and a very comfortable size and weight.  The new pair are a little heavier and I am still getting used to the feel and vision, but they are certainly more powerful and much clearer once sighted and focused.

The next day on the way back into Boulder I stopped at the Legion Park overlook to check out the Osprey platform(s). The new Monarch 3s worked great and I quickly sighted an adult and two juvenile Osprey on the eastern nest and platform.  As I scanned the water and area, I noticed another adult fly up from the water's edge to the more central platform that doesn't appear to have a nest, meaning it probably was the mate from the first family.

Since then I have frequently observed the Red-tails (as many as three flying together), the Swainson's, some American Kestrels and a couple of Turkey Vultures over Rothman, plus a lone adult Osprey on Valmont, likely one of the Legion Park family, so all appears to be well in the local raptor front.

A little Brasil birding

When I arrived at our hotel in Salvador, Brasil, my eyes were immediately drawn to a "Birds of Brazil" tome on the bookshelf in the lobby and knew I would have to peruse it.  Outside, I was immediately stuck by the constant presence and sometime huge numbers of Black Vultures everywhere in Brasil.  I do mean everywhere, even in downtown Rio, you can rarely go more than a minute without seeing at least one soaring overhead or perched on a high up spot, and often it was many, dozens, often interspersed with Frigate birds (especially above Copacabana Beach in Rio) and occasionally a couple of Turkey Vultures.

My first chance to look at and utilize the book was sitting out by the pool when what appeared to be a Caracara-like bird flew over the hotel.  I thought I had seen something similar previously and now I had the time so I ran inside to grab the book and brought it out to my chair.  I flipped through it was amazed at all the colors and different birds that can be seen in this huge and diverse country.  The raptor section was many pages and I was fascinated by all the varieties of hawks, falcons, kites, eagles, harriers and others, including numerous caracaras, although none appeared to be my rather plain sighting, which could have either been a juvenile of some sort, or maybe just a Black Vulture at a strange angle.

A day or so later while walking through the local neighborhood I heard a high-pitched shriek that sounded very raptor-like and looked up to see one, then two, then a third small raptor flying among the trees.  My first impression was something along the lines of a Cooper's or Sharp-shinned, but certainly some interesting new tropical species.  Maybe  a Roadside Hawk or one of the many cool looking smaller accipiters from the book.  I got a decent look at one and immediately grabbed the book upon returning to the hotel.  I scanned all the small hawks, ruling out most and narrowing down the possibilities.  Not a Roadside.  Upon studying all the pictures and descriptions, of the wings, head, tails, habitat, voice, I am 99% I spotted a young family of South American Sharp-shinned hawks, just like the ones I occasionally see near my home.

Otherwise, I did not see a ton of spectacular birds to report.  They were many water fowl, egrets, herons, some smaller colorful LBJs in the bushes and trees, and maybe an Osprey or two flying over the ocean, but this trip was more about the soccer and the minimal birding was just an extra treat.