[cobirds] Juvenile Zone-tailed Hawk at 60 MPH in a construction zone... Between Mead and Berthoud exits on I-25on I-25

['Cathy Sheeter' via Colorado Birds]

I had to run artwork up to Loveland today and was on I-25 heading north, 
when between the Mead and Berthoud section of interstate, I had a large all 
dark bird come right over the interstate not more than 25 feet high soaring 
from west to east.  At first glance my brain said Turkey Vulture, as it 
slightly rocked back and forth without flapping at all, and then as I am 
studying it (albeit at 60 MPH, though I probably decelerated and pissed off 
people behind me) I see a Raptor head with bright yellow cere staring down 
at me and then note the finely banded tail and wings and was like "Holy 
Sh*T that's a juvenile Zone-tail!!"... and my camera with 600 mm lens is 
right on the seat next to me, but I am on the interstate, in traffic, and 
it is a construction zone with the entire shoulder closed off... so with no 
option to pull over there, my plan B was to go up to the Berthoud exit and 
take the frontage road back south and try to find it... well the frontage 
road at Berthoud exit is also closed due to the construction (pulling my 
hair out at this point).  I did finally find a way to access the general 
agricultural area that it was headed towards via going back to the Mead 
exit, but it was a good 15-20 minutes before I got back over to that area 
and I was not able to re-locate it.  

So I will be the first to say I take highway-speed observations as suspect, 
including my own, and if this bird had not been so low and easily observed 
I probably would write it off as unidentified, but I got stellar looks at 
this bird due to its slow rocking flight style and low altitude over the 
highway.  The fine banding on wings and tail, general wing shape, head 
shape and rocking Turkey-vulturesque flight style do not fit any other 
raptor species.  I have studied a number of Zone-tails in Arizona and 
Texas, including a few juveniles, and the bird was a perfect fit.  

I debate the value in reporting this, as I acquired no photos, and 
Zone-tails are generally not very chasable, but should you find yourself in 
this general area please keep an eye out.  

One more reason to hate road construction... no opportunity to stop and 
document a rarity.

As an aside, I would have reported this at the time of sighting from my 
phone, but can find no way to post to groups from a mobile device.  I can 
read posts, but not start a new one or reply.  Does anyone know how to post 
to google groups from an iphone?  Do I need an app, and if so what is it 
called?  

Cathy Sheeter 
Aurora, CO 

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/a50dd87a-8cb8-47f3-a8b3-18b7823fdae1n%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, September 16

[meredith]

A lovely day at the banding station!  Banded 59 birds of 14 species, 
including a Nashville Warbler, which is a relative rarity, and a 
Connecticut Warbler, which is the first ever caught at Barr in the fall 
(there is a record of one caught on 5/24/93).

We did a really fun one hour virtual program with the Tuesday Birders, who, 
according to Ann Bonnell, have been visiting the Barr Lake Banding Station 
annually since it started some 32 years ago.  Tuesday Birders are not 
meeting in person this year because of Covid, so we brought birds to them 
virtually in their homes - could not break their record of annual visits!

Here's the breakdown of today's birds:

Downy Woodpecker 1
House Wren 3
Gray Catbird 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 7
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's 7
Connecticut Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 26
Spotted Towhee 1
Green-tailed Towhee 1
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 7
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow 1
Mountain White-crowned Sparrow 1

If you'd like to visit: Due to restrictions related to Covid-19, we are 
requiring visitors to make a reservation and we will have only 6 visitors 
at the station at a time. We are doing three one-hour time slots, from 8-9, 
9-10, and 10-11, on Tuesdays and then Thursdays through Sundays, through 
October 11. There is a $5 per person fee; scholarships are available to 
those unable to pay. All visitors, staff and volunteers will be wearing 
masks and people will be expected to socially distance. To register and for 
more information go to 
www.birdconservancy.org/bandingregister
 
Meredith McBurney
Bander, Barr Lake Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/b108cf11-cdb7-4d32-8c47-124091b415e0n%40googlegroups.com.

Re: [cobirds] NY Times article

[Lisa Carp]

So sad.
We are scheduled to leave the 1st to go to NM to bird.
I wonder what it will be like now??
Lisa Carp
Superior

On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:50 AM Laura Gorman  wrote:

> https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/us/dead-birds-new-mexico-colorado.html
> The Times has picked up on the situation here...
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8aa117b0-97ea-4077-8dca-0a1b9e1b72ben%40googlegroups.com
> 
> .
>

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAHkHN6RZ0KqOWdgtUw2-_eLud9PGMQBqRdkt9VSwHmc0tvuuMg%40mail.gmail.com.

[cobirds] Connecticut Warbler Adams county Barr Lake

[Susan Rosine]

The Connecticut Warbler was banded today at the Barr Lake Banding Station, 
Adams County. As far as I know, it has not been refound today.

Here is my checklist, if you'd like to see some pictures.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S73664855 

A LIFER for me! What a thrill!!
Susan Rosine
Brighton, Adams
Banding Station Volunteer

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1ee914d0-2eab-44c8-86c0-24593881f54eo%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Re: Rocky Mountain National Park

[Joe Kipper]

Thanks for these updates Carl - very helpful.
Joe Kipper,
Fort Collins

On Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 9:32:43 AM UTC-6 carlb...@gmail.com 
wrote:

> Three days of birding in RMNP since September 5 is not a big sample but I 
> noticed an apparent lack of birds both quantity and variety.  Everywhere we 
> went, we commented how quiet it seemed.  I can only speculate that both the 
> extreme cold front and persistent smoke is to blame. (And see other 
> postings, for example, of the NY Times article on the bird die-off in New 
> Mexico and Colorado.)
>
> Thought I would also update a few things for those considering a visit to 
> RMNP:
>
> The advance reservation system currently in place is ending on October 12; 
> after that, entry goes back to "normal."   The park has been noticeably 
> less crowded with the reservation system in place.  And, you can still 
> bypass the need for a permit if you enter before 6 a.m.
>
> Speaking of early entry, construction on HWY 36 within the park continues 
> and a section is closed every night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.  Sunday 
> through Friday.  IF you enter at Beaver Meadows before 7 a.m. during the 
> closure period, you can only go in as far as the Bear Lake road.  So if you 
> are coming in early to visit other parts of the park such as going up Trail 
> Ridge Road, you need to use the Fall River entrance.   Note this also means 
> you may have trouble exiting in the evening (after viewing the elk rut, for 
> example) unless you exit at Fall River.
>
> Due to smoke and the encroachment of the Cameron Peak fire, much of the 
> northwest corner of the park is closed including the Old Fall River Road.
>
> Finally, trail construction is continuing at the Alluvial Fan area in 
> Endovalley and BOTH the east and west alluvial fan parking areas were 
> completely closed yesterday.
>
> IF you are planning a visit, be sure to check the Park website 
>  for the latest updates.
>
> Despite all this, we did manage to find three White-tailed Ptarmigan along 
> Trail Ridge Rd, an American Three-toed Woodpecker in Hidden Valley, and a 
> Northern Pygmy Owl at Upper Beaver Meadows.   Unless the several Wilson's 
> Warblers we saw were non-locals, we found no migrant species.
>
> Carl Bendorf
> Longmont, CO
>

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1c1a6534-726f-4296-b08c-e90129aa0680n%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Rocky Mountain National Park

[Carl Bendorf]

Three days of birding in RMNP since September 5 is not a big sample but I 
noticed an apparent lack of birds both quantity and variety.  Everywhere we 
went, we commented how quiet it seemed.  I can only speculate that both the 
extreme cold front and persistent smoke is to blame. (And see other 
postings, for example, of the NY Times article on the bird die-off in New 
Mexico and Colorado.)

Thought I would also update a few things for those considering a visit to 
RMNP:

The advance reservation system currently in place is ending on October 12; 
after that, entry goes back to "normal."   The park has been noticeably 
less crowded with the reservation system in place.  And, you can still 
bypass the need for a permit if you enter before 6 a.m.

Speaking of early entry, construction on HWY 36 within the park continues 
and a section is closed every night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.  Sunday 
through Friday.  IF you enter at Beaver Meadows before 7 a.m. during the 
closure period, you can only go in as far as the Bear Lake road.  So if you 
are coming in early to visit other parts of the park such as going up Trail 
Ridge Road, you need to use the Fall River entrance.   Note this also means 
you may have trouble exiting in the evening (after viewing the elk rut, for 
example) unless you exit at Fall River.

Due to smoke and the encroachment of the Cameron Peak fire, much of the 
northwest corner of the park is closed including the Old Fall River Road.

Finally, trail construction is continuing at the Alluvial Fan area in 
Endovalley and BOTH the east and west alluvial fan parking areas were 
completely closed yesterday.

IF you are planning a visit, be sure to check the Park website 
 for the latest updates.

Despite all this, we did manage to find three White-tailed Ptarmigan along 
Trail Ridge Rd, an American Three-toed Woodpecker in Hidden Valley, and a 
Northern Pygmy Owl at Upper Beaver Meadows.   Unless the several Wilson's 
Warblers we saw were non-locals, we found no migrant species.

Carl Bendorf
Longmont, CO

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/c686c19f-2325-4520-880a-32e3d8626522n%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Connecticut Warbler banded at Barr Lake this morning

[JOHN MALENICH]

 
 
  
   Connecticut Warbler banded at 8:30 am at Barr Lake this morning by Meredith
  
  
   
  
  
   John Malenich
  
  
   Boulder, CO
   
 




-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1147787457.21057.1600268950297%40connect.xfinity.com.

Re: [cobirds] Abridged summary of cobirds@googlegroups.com - 15 updates in 7 topics

[JOHN MALENICH]

 
 
  
   Connecticut Warbler banded at Barr Lake banding station by Meredith at 8:30 this morning!
  
  
   
  
  
   John Malenich
  
  
   Boulder, CO
   
 




-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/793424866.21042.1600268829264%40connect.xfinity.com.

Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty

[Pam Piombino]

Who was it that quipped on co-birds a few years back when noting hawk
variability, "It's a Red-tail until proven otherwise"?

Pam Piombino

On Wed, Sep 16, 2020, 8:53 AM Diana Beatty  wrote:

> I just came across the Ferruginous Rough-leg nomenclature this past
> weekend - I just got a copy of Charles Aiken's Birds of El Paso County from
> 1911 and it was there - I should share more from it sometime - lots of name
> changes and species divisions and lumps that are different from now.
>
> Diana Beatty
> El Paso County
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:15 AM Joe Roller  wrote:
>
>> Great discussion.
>> In the distant past, the name for Ferruginous Hawk was
>> "Ferruginous Rough-leg", because of its feathered tarsi,
>> a feature it shares with the "regular" Rough-legged Hawk.
>> I still call them "Ferruginous Rough-legs" to remind me
>> to look at the tarsi.
>> Or maybe because I seem stuck in the past -
>> Marsh Hawk, anyone?
>>
>> Joe Roller, Denver
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:55 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you all for your suggestions. I accept the pale Red-tail, possible
>>> Krider’s hawk (even though looking at the photo I thought there’s no way
>>> this can be a Red-tail: white head, white rump, barred tail!). But there is
>>> more to the story of this pale red-tail. I was looking out the kitchen
>>> window and the bird flew * up* from below the window,  which is when I
>>> saw its tail. I got to thinking, what would any large hawk be doing on the
>>> ground outside my window? So I went and looked on the ground there for any
>>> signs of avian mayhem. And I found … a complete wing of a Yellow-rumped
>>> warbler! There were no excess feathers or body anywhere although I later
>>> found the other wing, also intact. Whatever had got this warbler – and it
>>> may not have been this hawk as the wing feathers were only slightly supple
>>> as if the bird had died yesterday or early in the morning – had clipped off
>>> its wings and carried off the body! In fact, I had the impression that the
>>> pale hawk had something in its grasp as it landed atop the tree because it
>>> looked down at its feet when it alit. I dunno, this was certainly a strange
>>> hawk encounter. Here’s a photo of one of the warbler wings, and thank you
>>> all again for your advice – Dave
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from Mail  for
>>> Windows 10
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* cobirds@googlegroups.com  on behalf
>>> of Joe Kipper 
>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 15, 2020 7:24:22 PM
>>> *To:* Colorado Birds 
>>> *Subject:* Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes, this is a definite juvenile Red-tailed. When I see birds like this
>>> in the field I don't really take note of the field marks like a should I
>>> just say "this is a Red-tailed because of the GISS," but this is a good
>>> opportunity to note the field marks since Osprey and Ferruginous Hawk were
>>> suggested. This bird is paler individual so it doesn't have the "helmeted"
>>> appearance that most adults and some very dark juveniles have. The "three
>>> points of white" field mark is a field mark that is useful when looking at
>>> the dorsal side of soaring buteos. Because this bird is perched, you can't
>>> even see the "wrists" mentioned by Caleb that would be white on a Ferrug.
>>> White speckling on the scapulars is another field mark of RTHA. Adult
>>> Ferrug would have orangish back with steel-blue primaries and juvenile
>>> Ferrug would have a uniform brown back. Unfeathered legs are also a huge
>>> field mark, thank you Todd D.
>>>
>>> Good Birding everyone! In a few months we will have plenty of
>>> opportunities to study the many buteos that winter here and their endless
>>> myriad of unique color morphs and plumages.
>>>
>>> Joe Kipper,
>>>
>>> Fort Collins
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 4:55:15 PM UTC-6 goldene...@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, check out light western juv. in Sibley. Bands
>>> on tail from Dave's description. Also, no feathered legs that Ferrug would
>>> show.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 3:42 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
>>>
>>> HI CObirders,,
>>>
>>> At 1.25pm today as I looked out my kitchen window I saw
>>> a large hawk fly upwards and over the house. All I saw was a spread tail
>>> with many fine bands. I grabbed my binoculars and camera and went to the
>>> front of the house to see the hawk land atop a pine tree. I spotted it and
>>> thought, ‘that looks like an Osprey! Better take a picture.’ So I did and
>>> got 3 photos before the bird flew away. As it went it looked like it had a
>>> white rump. This is the best photo I got. Can anyone please tell me what
>>> hawk this is? – Dave Hyde/nr Storm Moutain, Larimer Cty.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from Mail  for
>>> Windows 10
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to 

Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty

[Diana Beatty]

I just came across the Ferruginous Rough-leg nomenclature this past
weekend - I just got a copy of Charles Aiken's Birds of El Paso County from
1911 and it was there - I should share more from it sometime - lots of name
changes and species divisions and lumps that are different from now.

Diana Beatty
El Paso County


On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:15 AM Joe Roller  wrote:

> Great discussion.
> In the distant past, the name for Ferruginous Hawk was
> "Ferruginous Rough-leg", because of its feathered tarsi,
> a feature it shares with the "regular" Rough-legged Hawk.
> I still call them "Ferruginous Rough-legs" to remind me
> to look at the tarsi.
> Or maybe because I seem stuck in the past -
> Marsh Hawk, anyone?
>
> Joe Roller, Denver
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:55 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
>
>> Thank you all for your suggestions. I accept the pale Red-tail, possible
>> Krider’s hawk (even though looking at the photo I thought there’s no way
>> this can be a Red-tail: white head, white rump, barred tail!). But there is
>> more to the story of this pale red-tail. I was looking out the kitchen
>> window and the bird flew * up* from below the window,  which is when I
>> saw its tail. I got to thinking, what would any large hawk be doing on the
>> ground outside my window? So I went and looked on the ground there for any
>> signs of avian mayhem. And I found … a complete wing of a Yellow-rumped
>> warbler! There were no excess feathers or body anywhere although I later
>> found the other wing, also intact. Whatever had got this warbler – and it
>> may not have been this hawk as the wing feathers were only slightly supple
>> as if the bird had died yesterday or early in the morning – had clipped off
>> its wings and carried off the body! In fact, I had the impression that the
>> pale hawk had something in its grasp as it landed atop the tree because it
>> looked down at its feet when it alit. I dunno, this was certainly a strange
>> hawk encounter. Here’s a photo of one of the warbler wings, and thank you
>> all again for your advice – Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Mail  for
>> Windows 10
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* cobirds@googlegroups.com  on behalf of
>> Joe Kipper 
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 15, 2020 7:24:22 PM
>> *To:* Colorado Birds 
>> *Subject:* Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, this is a definite juvenile Red-tailed. When I see birds like this
>> in the field I don't really take note of the field marks like a should I
>> just say "this is a Red-tailed because of the GISS," but this is a good
>> opportunity to note the field marks since Osprey and Ferruginous Hawk were
>> suggested. This bird is paler individual so it doesn't have the "helmeted"
>> appearance that most adults and some very dark juveniles have. The "three
>> points of white" field mark is a field mark that is useful when looking at
>> the dorsal side of soaring buteos. Because this bird is perched, you can't
>> even see the "wrists" mentioned by Caleb that would be white on a Ferrug.
>> White speckling on the scapulars is another field mark of RTHA. Adult
>> Ferrug would have orangish back with steel-blue primaries and juvenile
>> Ferrug would have a uniform brown back. Unfeathered legs are also a huge
>> field mark, thank you Todd D.
>>
>> Good Birding everyone! In a few months we will have plenty of
>> opportunities to study the many buteos that winter here and their endless
>> myriad of unique color morphs and plumages.
>>
>> Joe Kipper,
>>
>> Fort Collins
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 4:55:15 PM UTC-6 goldene...@gmail.com
>> wrote:
>>
>> Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, check out light western juv. in Sibley. Bands
>> on tail from Dave's description. Also, no feathered legs that Ferrug would
>> show.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 3:42 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
>>
>> HI CObirders,,
>>
>> At 1.25pm today as I looked out my kitchen window I saw a
>> large hawk fly upwards and over the house. All I saw was a spread tail with
>> many fine bands. I grabbed my binoculars and camera and went to the front
>> of the house to see the hawk land atop a pine tree. I spotted it and
>> thought, ‘that looks like an Osprey! Better take a picture.’ So I did and
>> got 3 photos before the bird flew away. As it went it looked like it had a
>> white rump. This is the best photo I got. Can anyone please tell me what
>> hawk this is? – Dave Hyde/nr Storm Moutain, Larimer Cty.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Mail  for
>> Windows 10
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "Colorado Birds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR06MB244017115B23E277736587CAF5200%40CY4PR06MB2440.namprd0

[cobirds] NY Times article

[Laura Gorman]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/us/dead-birds-new-mexico-colorado.html
The Times has picked up on the situation here...

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8aa117b0-97ea-4077-8dca-0a1b9e1b72ben%40googlegroups.com.

Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty

['Peter Ruprecht' via Colorado Birds]

 Buteos are never boring!  Even our most common one, the Red-tailed, has 
variation both subtle and dramatic for a lifetime of interest and wonder.  I 
have appreciated hearing everyone's perspectives on Dave's bird.
I wanted to note that a few weeks ago Chris Petrizzo and I saw a similar 
immature redtail in the Endovalley in RMNP.  Ours had an almost completely 
bright white head.  https://ebird.org/checklist/S73061878 .  If it was a 
Krider's (hard to say for sure because we only got very brief distant looks at 
its dorsal side) then I think it would be unusual to see up in the mts like 
that.  Interestingly, now we have Dave's very light redtail up off of the 
plains as well.
One thing to keep in mind with the "three white lights" field marks of the 
Ferruginous Hawk is that immature redtails can often show a similar pattern.  
They regularly show a white base of the tail, and they have light windows or 
panels on the outer third of the wing.  I admit to having been fooled by this 
(cough cough) more than once!
Peter RuprechtSuperior

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 7:55:19 PM MDT, Dave Hyde 
 wrote:  
 
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. I accept the pale Red-tail, possible 
Krider’s hawk (even though looking at the photo I thought there’s no way this 
can be a Red-tail: white head, white rump, barred tail!). But there is more to 
the story of this pale red-tail. I was looking out the kitchen window and the 
bird flew up from below the window,  which is when I saw its tail. I got to 
thinking, what would any large hawk be doing on the ground outside my window? 
So I went and looked on the ground there for any signs of avian mayhem. And I 
found … a complete wing of a Yellow-rumped warbler! There were no excess 
feathers or body anywhere although I later found the other wing, also intact. 
Whatever had got this warbler – and it may not have been this hawk as the wing 
feathers were only slightly supple as if the bird had died yesterday or early 
in the morning – had clipped off its wings and carried off the body! In fact, I 
had the impression that the pale hawk had something in its grasp as it landed 
atop the tree because it looked down at its feet when it alit. I dunno, this 
was certainly a strange hawk encounter. Here’s a photo of one of the warbler 
wings, and thank you all again for your advice – Dave

  
 


  
 
Sent from Mail for Windows 10

  
 

 
From: cobirds@googlegroups.com  on behalf of Joe 
Kipper 
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 7:24:22 PM
To: Colorado Birds 
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty 
 
 
 
Yes, this is a definite juvenile Red-tailed. When I see birds like this in the 
field I don't really take note of the field marks like a should I just say 
"this is a Red-tailed because of the GISS," but this is a good opportunity to 
note the field marks since Osprey and Ferruginous Hawk were suggested. This 
bird is paler individual so it doesn't have the "helmeted" appearance that most 
adults and some very dark juveniles have. The "three points of white" field 
mark is a field mark that is useful when looking at the dorsal side of soaring 
buteos. Because this bird is perched, you can't even see the "wrists" mentioned 
by Caleb that would be white on a Ferrug. White speckling on the scapulars is 
another field mark of RTHA. Adult Ferrug would have orangish back with 
steel-blue primaries and juvenile Ferrug would have a uniform brown back. 
Unfeathered legs are also a huge field mark, thank you Todd D.
 
Good Birding everyone! In a few months we will have plenty of opportunities to 
study the many buteos that winter here and their endless myriad of unique color 
morphs and plumages.
 
Joe Kipper,
 
Fort Collins
 
  
 
On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 4:55:15 PM UTC-6 goldene...@gmail.com wrote:
 

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, check out light western juv. in Sibley. Bands on tail 
from Dave's description. Also, no feathered legs that Ferrug would show.
 
  
 
On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 3:42 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
 

HI CObirders,,

    At 1.25pm today as I looked out my kitchen window I saw a large 
hawk fly upwards and over the house. All I saw was a spread tail with many fine 
bands. I grabbed my binoculars and camera and went to the front of the house to 
see the hawk land atop a pine tree. I spotted it and thought, ‘that looks like 
an Osprey! Better take a picture.’ So I did and got 3 photos before the bird 
flew away. As it went it looked like it had a white rump. This is the best 
photo I got. Can anyone please tell me what hawk this is? – Dave Hyde/nr Storm 
Moutain, Larimer Cty.

 



 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 



-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
tocobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR06MB244017115

Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty

[Joe Roller]

Great discussion.
In the distant past, the name for Ferruginous Hawk was
"Ferruginous Rough-leg", because of its feathered tarsi,
a feature it shares with the "regular" Rough-legged Hawk.
I still call them "Ferruginous Rough-legs" to remind me
to look at the tarsi.
Or maybe because I seem stuck in the past -
Marsh Hawk, anyone?

Joe Roller, Denver


On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:55 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:

> Thank you all for your suggestions. I accept the pale Red-tail, possible
> Krider’s hawk (even though looking at the photo I thought there’s no way
> this can be a Red-tail: white head, white rump, barred tail!). But there is
> more to the story of this pale red-tail. I was looking out the kitchen
> window and the bird flew * up* from below the window,  which is when I
> saw its tail. I got to thinking, what would any large hawk be doing on the
> ground outside my window? So I went and looked on the ground there for any
> signs of avian mayhem. And I found … a complete wing of a Yellow-rumped
> warbler! There were no excess feathers or body anywhere although I later
> found the other wing, also intact. Whatever had got this warbler – and it
> may not have been this hawk as the wing feathers were only slightly supple
> as if the bird had died yesterday or early in the morning – had clipped off
> its wings and carried off the body! In fact, I had the impression that the
> pale hawk had something in its grasp as it landed atop the tree because it
> looked down at its feet when it alit. I dunno, this was certainly a strange
> hawk encounter. Here’s a photo of one of the warbler wings, and thank you
> all again for your advice – Dave
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail  for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From:* cobirds@googlegroups.com  on behalf of
> Joe Kipper 
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 15, 2020 7:24:22 PM
> *To:* Colorado Birds 
> *Subject:* Re: [cobirds] Hawk i.d. Storm Mountain, Larimer Cty
>
>
>
> Yes, this is a definite juvenile Red-tailed. When I see birds like this in
> the field I don't really take note of the field marks like a should I just
> say "this is a Red-tailed because of the GISS," but this is a good
> opportunity to note the field marks since Osprey and Ferruginous Hawk were
> suggested. This bird is paler individual so it doesn't have the "helmeted"
> appearance that most adults and some very dark juveniles have. The "three
> points of white" field mark is a field mark that is useful when looking at
> the dorsal side of soaring buteos. Because this bird is perched, you can't
> even see the "wrists" mentioned by Caleb that would be white on a Ferrug.
> White speckling on the scapulars is another field mark of RTHA. Adult
> Ferrug would have orangish back with steel-blue primaries and juvenile
> Ferrug would have a uniform brown back. Unfeathered legs are also a huge
> field mark, thank you Todd D.
>
> Good Birding everyone! In a few months we will have plenty of
> opportunities to study the many buteos that winter here and their endless
> myriad of unique color morphs and plumages.
>
> Joe Kipper,
>
> Fort Collins
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 4:55:15 PM UTC-6 goldene...@gmail.com
> wrote:
>
> Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, check out light western juv. in Sibley. Bands on
> tail from Dave's description. Also, no feathered legs that Ferrug would
> show.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 3:42 PM Dave Hyde  wrote:
>
> HI CObirders,,
>
> At 1.25pm today as I looked out my kitchen window I saw a
> large hawk fly upwards and over the house. All I saw was a spread tail with
> many fine bands. I grabbed my binoculars and camera and went to the front
> of the house to see the hawk land atop a pine tree. I spotted it and
> thought, ‘that looks like an Osprey! Better take a picture.’ So I did and
> got 3 photos before the bird flew away. As it went it looked like it had a
> white rump. This is the best photo I got. Can anyone please tell me what
> hawk this is? – Dave Hyde/nr Storm Moutain, Larimer Cty.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail  for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR06MB244017115B23E277736587CAF5200%40CY4PR06MB2440.namprd06.prod.outlook.com
> 
> .
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Todd Deininger
> Longmont, CO
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion o

Re: [cobirds] Common Black Hawk, Teller, YES

[Kip Miller]

John Bruder reported it was still present this morning.

Good birding,

Kip Miller
Colorado Springs

On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 11:05 AM David Bailey 
wrote:

> Has anyone been to Manitou Lake today?  This is my first free afternoon to
> go down and look for the black hawk.  I'm hopeful it's still there but any
> negative reports could help save me from a nice long Tuesday afternoon
> drive :)
>
> David Bailey
> Golden
>
> On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 9:46 AM  wrote:
>
>> The bird continues at the same location. It was at the spillway when I
>> arrived, flushed about 20 minutes later and flew to the north east corner
>> of Manitou lake for about five minutes, and then flew back to the creek a
>> bit down stream of the spillway where it currently is now.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Eric DeFonso
>>
>>
>> near Lyons, CO
>>
>>
>> Sent from the Aether
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "Colorado Birds" group.
>>
>>
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
>>
>>
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/05DDB0C2-8457-406B-863D-6298631BE1AB%40gmail.com
>> .
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
>
>
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAyj4V7PHq3xn_hfr-Jf-NZ2W4Cbz7N%2BT%2BkvbA%2BtyugziXug%3DQ%40mail.gmail.com
> 
> .
>
>
>

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABQ%2BxQWBvZb2SLG2U7xCjd%3Dt7%3DL7i-oFDHcRWB75mwwRSOjjrg%40mail.gmail.com.

Re: [cobirds] Russian olive removal

[Duane Nelson]

Birders,

Since Dave Leatherman asked for my input about the habitat of the 
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher I found at Adobe Creek Reservoir in Bent 
County in September 2002, I'll weigh in. The improbable habitat used by 
that bird was stunted tamarisk (salt-cedar) trees along abandoned inlet 
canals on the west side of the reservoir. While there were a couple of 
Russian-Olives and sickly cottonwood trees scattered there, that did not 
seem to be the habitat preferred by the bird.


I have another species that I did observe in Russian-Olive habitat, that 
was definitely feeding on the fruits. A Piratic Flycatcher was present 
at Ft. Sumner, New Mexico in September of 2003. It was confined to 
Russian-Olives. I saw that bird on September 16th (ironically, today is 
the anniversary of that sighting) with Brian Gibbons.


Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO


On 9/15/2020 10:33 AM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN wrote:
The Russian-olive removal at Crow Valley Campground was done at the 
behest of the US Forest Service who is in charge of the area.  These 
days the USFS does almost all on-the-ground work, except firefighting, 
through contractors.  I believe the removal of the olives at Crow 
Valley Campground was performed by some locals out of Briggsdale.  My 
guess as to how this all went down is that there was a pot of money in 
a veg management account that would have to be returned if not spent 
by September 30 (the end of the federal fiscal year), somebody in 
Greeley or Washington knew about, or ascribed to, the paradigm that 
R-o is evil, also knew that giving a contract to the two guys with a 
dog, chainsaw, magnetic sign and pick-up would give somebody brownie 
points for "hiring local", and it was done deal.  As far as I can 
tell, it was a quick and dirty operation with no removal of the cut 
wood, no treatment of the stumps, no replacement planting of "better" 
species, no interpretive material on-site or explanation given to the 
Campground Host (in case he was asked why it was done).  If somebody 
knows a different story about how this all happened, I am open to 
correction.


As stated, the paradigm amongst most CO natural resource agencies, be 
they federal, state, county or city, is that Russian-olive is evil and 
deserves eradication.  This is a fairly new school of thought.  
Following the Dust Bowl, R-o was planted widely promoted and planted 
as a helpful remedy on the Great Plains.  The federal Soil 
Conservation Service (now the NRCS) was its biggest promoter.  R-o 
grows well in harsh places and we all know the world is getting 
harsher by the minute.  The Colorado State Forest Service I used to 
work for has the last government tree nursery standing in CO and 
grows/sells approximately 2 million seedlings of all types a year.  
They only quit offering R-o in the 1990's, mostly because it was PC to 
do so.  We all know the tree is a mixed bag, and considering only the 
issue of attracting birds, it is decidedly a positive. I have extolled 
the positive aspects of this tree for birds for many years.  These 
efforts started out not so much as promotion of the tree but as an 
effort to "stand up" for it a bit, and balance the rhetoric.   The 
knocks against it are: 1) it has potential to take over riparian areas 
to the exclusion of native, better trees like willow and cottonwood, 
and 2) it doesn't host very many insects, and, thus, doesn't support a 
very robust set of nesting birds.  The fear of riparian area take-over 
has been erroneously extended to upland sites (which Crow Valley 
essentially is since it rarely experiences creek bed flow any more).  
I have only seen the total takeover and stagnation of riparian areas 
in a limited number of places in CO, mostly along the Arkansas e of 
Pueblo.  In my mind, tamarisk (aka "salt-cedar") is way worse.


The primary insect R-o does have, an aphid (/Capitophorus 
elaeagni/)/,/ is very attractive to birds.  The fruits are very 
attractive to many birds including warblers, woodpeckers, flycatchers, 
thrushes, waxwings, mimic thrushes, finches, sparrows and many others 
including even upland gamebirds and gulls.  Wood ducks love them.  
When discovered, the 1st or 2nd State Record Brown-crested Flycatcher, 
Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Tropical Kingbird were in or near 
Russian-olives, no doubt using fruits to sustain their wayward 
adventures. Hey, Duane, any chance the Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher was 
doing the same?  Thickets are used by certain marquis birds like 
cardinals and cuckoos as nest sites.  Owls like long-ears roost/nest 
in R-o thickets, and I have even seen a pygmy-owl at low elevation in 
winter in a R-o thicket.


I am not sure what birders should do but I think the approach SeEtta 
mentions of at least injecting some balance into veg management 
planning early-on is good.  The resource managers, for the most 
part, have not heard our point of view that the tree could be good, 
and they need to hear it as something to weigh when c