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.