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.

Here is one last short post of local raptor tidbits before I head to Brasil and the World Cup (see my blog here: http://copabound.blogspot.com/ ).  If I see any Brazilian raptors of note (although we are not going to the rainforest at all this trip) I will try to post.

The Swainson’s Hawks are definitely on the cemetery nest in Lafayette.  If I drive to work, I can usually see one of them atop the nest as I wait for the light on 111^th at Baseline. I often see one soaring in the afternoon as well.  I am curious to check this nest out and look for the babies after I get back.  There are a lot of other Swainson's in the area and probably a couple of nests along Arapahoe between Lafayette and Boulder.

Likewise, the Red Tail nest at Simpson and Michigan is very active.  Even with the leaves you can usually see an adult on the nest and often catch one flying into the nest.  The babies will be very visible as they grow.  I see one of the adults (likely the male) almost every morning and every evening sitting on the T-post in the middle of the prairie dog field on the southern tract of Rothman Open Space, east of the rec center and skate park.  I have often laughed at these posts, but this bird really likes it.  If it flies it is always coming from or going in the direction of Simpson/Michigan.  He also likes to sit in the trees by the bridge and makes runs over the prairie dog field.  Although I have seen him eating smaller things, I have yet to see him catch a prairie rat.

I never figured out where the Cooper’s nest is located and have not observed them flying around as much.  However, the Kestrels have been very active, and although I don’t know of any specific nests, I think there might be a couple close by.

I did see an eagle soaring high over Lafayette this week, but nothing else of note.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any updates on any of the GHO nests.

Happy Raptoring!

Lafayette Nests

Well, the leaves have all come in and it is much harder to see what is happening at most previously visible nest sites, but there is still a fair amount of activity. Here’s an update on a few of the local nests as well as some other Spring sightings.

The “Jiffy Lube” Owls have been disturbed from their nest by construction right underneath them and they have moved to the tree behind just northwest.  When I stopped by to check in the noise was louder than ever and the tree empty.  I searched the surrounding trees and even went up the trail to look at the line of trees back there.  When I came back, I walked under the tree and searched above carefully and finally found three puffy blobs in the next tree over.  At first, I thought it was the three young ones, but when I got a closer look, it was an adult with two only slightly smaller owlets.  The third one, who was probably also the youngest and smallest, likely did not make the move and fell to become someone else’s dinner.  I searched the ground in the area and found many pellets and even part of a baby rabbit under the original nest, but I didn’t see any signs of the owlet.

I am not positive what is going on with “my” GHO nest west of Rothman and north of the dog park.  Although I had hoped to hike out there again for a close-up report, I haven’t been able to to do so.  When I have looked at it through binoculars a few times, I did not spy the telltale “horned” head sticking out of the nest, nor any other activity around it.  At some point I will hike out there again and see if there are any fluffy babies visible, but I am a little skeptical.

The Red-tailed nest on Michigan and Simpson is quite active and no one in the area seems aware of its existence.  It is not always easy to spot if the “mom” is sitting down in the nest, but when she is sitting up, or her mate flies in, it is quite obvious, and the leaves have not really covered them yet.  One of the birds is often out flying from the nest site to the “T” post in Rothman Open Space. I am pretty sure that this is the same RT pair that was chased out by the owls.

I have seen one or more Cooper’s Hawks in the area lately, including one that looked like it coasted into a tree across the open space in a tree right in the neighborhood some of my students live in.  I have searched around the area but didn’t observe anything (nor have I been approached by anyone or the police wondering why I am wandering around alleys with binoculars). I really want to track this one down.  I thought maybe it had a cavity nest of some sort but my preliminary research shows they generally build bulky platform nests pretty high in trees; there are a couple of candidates in the area but I haven’t spotted anything yet.  I need to do a little more research and I had a student go through a few Raptor books and their indices to mark pages with information on Cooper’s and their nesting habits.  I also have another student who lives in the area keeping her eye out as well.

The Swainson’s Hawks are back in full force and scoping out their own nest sites.  I got to witness a pair of Swainson’s Hawks flying and playing in the wind this past week.  As I walked the dogs I detoured slightly to keep the aerialists in view.  They were doing some great dives, but also just holding flat and still, looking directly into the wind side by side.  At one point they stopped on the prominent nest on the west side of the Lafayette Cemetery, but then appeared to have decided it was too small.  However, since then I have seen one sitting on that nest a few times and one or two flying overhead and I believe they have claimed it.

Last year, a pair nested just east of County Line, and just north off Baseline, and a couple more around Erie.  They tend to nest lower to the ground, and often closer to people than RTs so they can be great to observe in the summer if you know where to look.

The Osprey platforms are filling up around the county and beyond. The Boulder County Fairgrounds pair has three eggs but weather took out the camera (for the third year in a row).  There are numerous other great “cams” including Xcel Energy’s “bird cams”, the “Decorah eagles” and many others with a simple search.

If you happen to be driving I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Fruita, keep your eye open for the many Osprey platforms visible from the highway up into June or July.  There are also some Bald Eagle nests along the way.  Both species can usually be spotted easily on this stretch of road.

Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch:  The general numbers seem to be pretty low this year, with only a few days over thirty, and many more in single digits.  I find it interesting that they hadn’t seen a Swainson’s hawk near the end of the count in early May.  However, there were a few Broad-Winged Hawks spotted over the last week or so.  A few others have been reported around the state, but not as many as I remember last spring.

Other sightings: One of the most surprising reports of the season was an immature Zone-tailed Hawk putting on a display at Community College Park in Lamar. This spot has been mentioned in many places for many birds and rare sightings, including a nesting pair of Kites and could definitely be a summer target.

The first sighting of Mississppi Kite (that I have read about anyway) was reported in Widefield (El Paso County), near Watson Middle School.  I guess there has been a pair in this area in the past and might warrant a trip this summer.

Dinosaur Ridge 2 and Swainson's

 My Dad and I headed down to Dinosaur Ridge again yesterday, Monday, April 21 and it was a relatively quiet day.  On the drive down US 287 to Hwy 142 behind Interlocken to US 93 to US 6 we did not observe a single raptor.  As we pulled into the Stegasaurus lot a RT glided off the ridge.  We hiked up and met Bill who had just seen same RT, as well as a Peregrine Falcon a little earlier.  It was a beautiful day but slow going bird-wise, with only really RTs and TVs, and more local residents than migrants.  The highlight of the day was when four Red-tailed Hawks suddenly appeared in front of us over the ridge, three definitely migrating together, circling higher and higher in a distinct northernly directions.  The fourth one might have been tagging along or just checking them out as they went by.  I also had a Sharp-shinned Hawk (relatively sure) whizz by me northwest to southeast, followed quickly by a Kestrel.  We stayed from a little after 9:30 to almost 1:00.  On the way home, on US 142 almost back to 287, I saw my first Swainson's Hawk of the year, soaring over the business complex and flashing me its two-toned wings.  Finally!  Later that afternoon, I saw a hawk in a tree overhanging Arapahoe on my way into Boulder and thought it might be another Swainson's but I didn't get a good look.  However, on the way home it was on a nearby post showing off its dark brown bib and stark white chest!  They have not even observed one at the Hawkwatch yet this year.

Here is the post from the Hawkwatch:

Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 21, 2014
Species	Day's Count	Month Total	Season Total
Black Vulture	0	0	0
Turkey Vulture	1	83	86
Osprey	0	8	8
Bald Eagle	0	2	27
Northern Harrier	0	3	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	0	30	35
Cooper's Hawk	0	45	60
Northern Goshawk	0	2	2
Red-shouldered Hawk	0	0	0
Broad-winged Hawk	0	0	0
Red-tailed Hawk	10	100	230
Rough-legged Hawk	0	2	9
Swainson's Hawk	0	0	0
Ferruginous Hawk	0	1	9
Golden Eagle	0	3	10
American Kestrel	0	57	71
Merlin	0	4	4
Peregrine Falcon	1	2	4
Prairie Falcon	0	1	6
Mississippi Kite	0	0	0
Unknown Accipiter	1	20	22
Unknown Buteo	0	10	15
Unknown Falcon	0	3	3
Unknown Eagle	0	0	0
Unknown Raptor	1	4	8
Total:	14	380	612

Observation start time:	09:00:00
Observation end time:	15:30:00
Total observation time:	6.5 hours
Official Counter	Bill Flowers
Observers:	David Smith, Doug Smith

Weather:
The day was a nice day for Hawk Watching, although the raptors did not cooperate. The day started sunny then clouds moved in in the afternoon with a rain cell moving in just South of Mount Morrison, which affected the migration for a couple hours (12:00-14:00). The temperature ranged from 12-16 C (53-60 F). The wind was light and generally from the East with some periods from the South East. 

Raptor Observations:
A few raptors were observed migrating during the times when it was not raining to the South. These included 10 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Turkey Vulture, and 1 Peregrine Falcon. In the morning the raptors flew low above Dinosaur Ridge or just to the East of the Ridge. In the afternoon raptors flew very high over Dinosaur and West Ridges. Resident Red-tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, and Turkey Vultures were observed during the day.

 A lizard was also seen at the Hawk Watch site.

Nests, nests, nests!

The leaves are coming in so if you want to check out nests, this might be the last week to do so.  Here is a list and basic directions for a bunch of nests around Boulder County:

1)     I stumbled upon a brand new Red-tailed hawk nest (for me anyway) right in the middle of Old Town Lafayette.  It sits atop a tree at the NE corner of Simpson and Michigan above the pale yellow business house.  I was in the area and spotted it when I noticed a large hawk gliding in and land in the top of the tree as I was walking by, which I thought strange in itself as we were a few blocks from any type of open space.  It was them that I realized there was a nest just behind it with another hawk in it?!  I believe the first hawk was actually dropping some food for its mate sitting on the nest.  I am wondering if this is the pair that was chased off by “my” GHO (less than a mile almost directly north), and if their haste caused them to pick such an unusual spot, although I think this might also be a previously used GHO nest.

2)     GHO- Lafayette-Off of South Boulder Road, 1^st light east of 95^th, turn North on Plaza Dr, then right on Hecla Way, and go behind Jiffy Lube/Car Wash; a large nest is easily visible at the top of a tree, but active nest is actually much lower, more on east side of the tree, closer to noisy construction (?)-you can go into development and get almost under nest, without disturbing it, since they have not been bothered by any of the commotion; April 11 it had three large white owlets.

3)     Red-tail- Lafayette-95^th St. just south of Baseline Rd., easily viewed from road- in stand of trees between 95^th and new houses, but might be even better from in new development; this nest has been used for years by Red-tails and maybe why they are not bothered by all the commotion?

4)     “My” GHO- Lafayette-Just west of 119^th in between Baseline and Arapahoe, north of the dog park, there is a service road that is usually locked, but you can pull off there and get a good view.

5)     RT-north of Lafayette on US287 at Jasper Rd., nest on SE corner, best to pull off on Jasper.

*There has been a huge GHO nest just across 287 from Jasper, but I can’t confirm if anything is in it now.

6)     GHO-west of Erie on Kenosha Rd. just before road turns hard right at bridge (not the greatest pull off after the flood), there is a Great Blue Heron rookery on the south side of the road, and a GHO nest on the north, not immediately obvious, back a little from the road in the stand of trees.

7)     RT-Erie-County Line Rd at Evans, pull off on Evans and turn around and look west and nest is easily visible on other side of County Line.

8)    RT-north of Erie on County Line, just before Highway 52, large nest above farmhouse on west side of road.

9)     Bald Eagle-Longmont-going north on County Line until it is closed from flood damage and turn left at Quicksilver Road (St Vrain Greenway area), a large cone-shaped nest is across field.

10)  GHO: Longmont-off 75^th, one street north of Nelson Road, turn east on Kennedy Dr., pull in behind small office complex; 150 or so yards east of 75th there is a GHO nest-you can park almost underneath it less than 50 yards to get a great look with scope.

*Closer to 75^th there is another nest that has been RT last couple of years, and has had activity around it, but not sure if inhabited or not…

11)   However, across Nelson Rd, SE corner with 75^th is an RT nest above the farmhouse that might be that pair.

12)  Osprey-Longmont-Airport Road, just south of Mountain View (and Westview Middle School) is a large platform in the middle of the field with a pair (April 11)

13)  Osprey-just west of 59^th on St. Vrain Road (basically directly south of Hygiene Eagle nesting site), there is a platform built on a farm (there is a small unused one just before larger active one) only maybe 30 yards from the road on south side-shoulder is narrow and I suggest parking a little farther west on south side of road so as not to disturb the birds or human residents.

14)  RT- Just north of St Vrain on 59^th, at first 90 degree turn, nest in large tree in field (for a few years now)

15)   Osprey-Walden Ponds, Boulder-you have to hike back to it (I have not observed but two good sources confirm)

16)  There are also two Osprey platforms (one or the other has been used for a few years at least) on the Valmont Energy land south of Walden Ponds and visible from Legion Park overlook off Arapahoe Road, ~1/2 mile west of 75^{th t} there is a turn off as you go up the hill on north side, from the top they can be seen with binoculars, looking almost straight north (little east), across water but on level area.

17)  Just west and north, visible from Arapahoe at Westview Dr. is a RT nest in the trees-it is almost exactly even with Westview, but is not the most viewable site.

Bird of note: A Broad-Winged Hawk was reported in Boulder last week at 28^th and Iris (by a reputable CoBirders poster) who said his wife noticed something that was just not a RT or Swainson’s.  So jealous!  None have been reported at Dinosaur Ridge yet either, although Northern Goshawks have been observed at least three times, with one considered a “local”.

I still have not seen my first Swainson’s Hawk of the season yet, but I intend to when my dad and I head to Dinosaur Ridge Hawkwatch again today (Monday, so report coming soon).

Impromptu run

I had some time Friday afternoon and decided to head out on my “loop”, only a little backwards since I was starting in Boulder.  I headed out Broadway and caught my first official Turkey Vulture of the year (the only other one had been a “probably” in the late day sun) soaring north of town.  I went by the St. Vrain Osprey nest, and one of the pair was sitting on the platform nest.  I cut over on 59^th past the RT nest out in the field near that first curve, to the Hygiene site.  The eagles were not on the nest, but again far out on their perch in the distance.  As I was leaving, a man with binocs and two bikers stopped by and I had to tell them about the failed nest. 

I headed east to 75^th and the office site near Nelson Rd; the GHO was on its nest, but the RT nest was empty.  However, across Nelson, on the SE corner above the farmhouse is an occupied RT nest-could that be where they ended up, possibly if owls chased them off, or another pair entirely that close?  Next, I headed up to Airport Road and north to Westview Middle school, into their parking lot back south onto a bus service road, to where you can get a great view of an Osprey platform out in the middle of the field (basically at Mountain View Dr), and both adults were on the nest.  I cruised by the Fairgrounds where one Osprey was perched upon the camera.  

Next, it was east to the Bald Eagle nest off County Line and Quicksilver, near the St Vrain washout, and saw the mama on nest.  I headed back south on County Line past a couple of RT nests to Kenosha and up to the GHO nest across from the heron rookery, where mama was snoozing.  I went up to 287 and stopped near Dawson to look at huge nest just south of the creek, but it is so deep and surrounded by branches that I could not discern a head or “horns”, but the RT nest just up and across the highway at Jasper had a head poking out of it.  It was about then that I saw another TV soar overhead.  Lastly, I went up to 95^th, past the RT head in a nest at Baseline, and onto the GHOs behind the Jiffy Lube, where I once again had an incredible view of mama and her three babies (I have yet to spy the daddy hanging out in any nearby trees).  Later that afternoon, I saw a mini-flock of six TVs pass over Lafayette looking for a place to roost for the night.  Coming home that night I caught sight of another GHO on a light pole on Highway 7. Overall count for the day: 8 TVs, 3 Baldies, 4 Osprey, 4 adult & 3 baby GHOs, a few Kestrels and in the high teens for RTs.

I had to go into Boulder on Saturday morning so I stopped by Legion Park and looked down for the Ospreys and, sure enough, the pair was on the nest platform that is almost straight across the water at the base of the hill.  There also appears to be a Red-tail nest in the stand of trees just to the west, although it is not visible from the lookout.  I think the best viewing spot would be from Westview, just on the west side of the hill on Arapahoe, where you would be able to look back across the road and see it-I have only gotten quick glimpses from the moving car.  When I came home, one of the Osprey flew in low over the school buildings on the south side of the road and right over my car.  Lastly, just north of Lucerne on 111th, a Cooper’s Hawk whizzed out of the neighborhood on the west, right in front of me and disappeared into a yard on the other side of the street.

I have yet to see my first Swainson’s Hawk of the year, or at least identify one (there have been two maybes) but sightings are starting to pop up around the state.

Happy Raptoring!