Common Black Hawk update

We didn't see the Common Black Hawk, but 3 Ospreys provided a show. Two of them perched within a few hundreds yards of the MacKenzie bridge, and both went fishing. A third Osprey flew in, calling and displaying to the other two. While watching one of the Osprey's sitting on a snag watching for prey, it reminded me of how the Common Black Hawk had done the same thing as I watched two nights ago.

While I watched the Osprey on the snag where the Common Black Hawk had perched, some mixed swallows came in and flew around the area where the Osprey perched. The Osprey 's head moved as it apparently watched these interlopers in its air space--again this reminded me of how the Common Black Hawk, sitting on the same snag, watched a flock of swallows that were flying in the area of that snag. Though I googled the internet to see if Common Black Hawks ever it birds, I couldn't find any reference that it engages in that behavior.

SeEtta

Common Black Hawk still being seen in Canon City

The Common Black Hawk has been seen at least once each day for past 7 days near the MacKenzie Ave bridge over the Arkansas River. Close to 20 birders from as far away as Ft Collins and Glenwood Springs, Co have driven to Canon City to look for this state rairity (and I learned there are only about 250 breeding pairs of Common Black Hawk in the United States, so it is not a common hawk in this country).

There have been 2 Black Phoebes foraging daily near the MacKenzie Ave bridge. Several Spotted Sandpipers, a Belted Kingfisher and a number of Mallards have been seen along the river nearby. Cooper's Hawks, a Peregrine Falcon, a dark phase Swainson's Hawk, several Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures have been sighted flying in the area of this bridge by those looking for the Common Black Hawk.

And last night I saw a flock of about 10 Common Nighthawks flying in the vicinity, presumably feeding as they migrate south.

SeEtta

Common Black Hawk and more in Canon City

The Common Black Hawk seen last week in Canon City, then not seen for 3 days, was seen again Monday and today. Today's view was fairly close and quite clear though of quite short duration. I think that the number of birders, especially last week when 8-10 were present at one time, are effecting the movement of this hawk.

Two days ago we had an amazing number of White-throated Swifts flying around the area where birders were looking for the Common Black Hawk. When I got there I saw hundreds of these swifts soaring and catching insects above the area. I was told by another birder that he had seen more than a thousand of these earlier.

Other neat birds seen around this area include a Merlin, several sightings of Peregrine Hawks, a dark phase Swainson's Hawk, at least one more light phase Swainson's Hawk, several sightings of Cooper's Hawks and American Kestral, a immature Sabine's Gull, Common Nighthawks and one Lesser Nighthawk. Last week 2 Black Phoebes stayed around. That's in addition to the more common Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, Mallards, Canada Geese, Spotted Sandpipers, Wilson Warblers and Yellow Warblers.
SeEtta

Rare Common Black Hawk returns to Canon City

Now Blogger.com is having problems and won't upload any photos.

A Common Black Hawk was reported by a local birder several days ago in Canon City. This sub-tropical hawk is a very rare species in Colorado with fewer than 10 documented sightings. This is actually the third year a Common Black Hawk, presumably the same bird, has been seen in Canon City.

Last year the bird stayed for about a month but came earlier. This year the Arkansas River, where it would feed, had a much higher flow due to both increased precipitation in the area and draining of a reservoir in the upper Arkansas for repairs. Since the nearest locations for these hawks is in west central New Mexico, they would be accustomed to lower water levels in the riparian areas that are their habitat. So I suspect this bird waited for the water level to go down before it stopped here.

I will post a photo when this service allows. SeEtta

Common Black Hawk confirmed in Canon City

The hawk I reported on a few days ago has been confirmed to be a Common Black Hawk, a very rare bird in Colorado. In the United State these birds are usually found in the southwestern states including southern New Mexico. Their diet is crawdads, frogs, snakes, crabs and the like.

Read more about Common Black Hawk
SeEtta

More about Common Black Hawk

Here is another photo of the Common Black Hawk (only editing was to crop photo to enlarge it). As is visible in this photo, the hawk was watching the river area below the snag. It spent a lot of time just perched, watching the river below. This is consistent with what I have read about this species. It is described as sedentary, passively hunting for prey from perches, where they sit forelong periods of time.

It was really cool when, after I left to get my jacket, I found it standing on a gravel bar in the river near the snag on which it had been perched. The hawk was looking around, presumably looking for prey (they eat crawdads, fish, and frogs--all available in the river at this area) I had read, and been told by other birders, that Common Black Hawks will hunt for prey from gravel and sand bars, and even will walk in the water. More tomorrow.

SeEtta

Common Black Hawk seen again in Canon City

After several days with no sign of the Common Black Hawk (possibly related to windy then rainy weather and/or behavior changes related to all the birders watching for this very shy hawk), it was seen this morning sitting on the snag on which it was seen week before last. However, as soon as the birder who first spotted it while driving across the MacKenzie bridge could park his car, walk back to the bridge and get the bird in his binoculars it flew down then into the trees. I came along about 5-10 minutes later but the bird was not seen again this morning.

As I suspected that the bird's behavior was changed by all the birders (almost 60, some coming up to 4 times to look for it) in the area, I went to the bridge just after 6 pm (later than it had been seen when it was being seen in time clusters) and saw it. I was delighted to be able to view it for 45 minutes until just after 7 pm when it became too dark to see.

Note the blackish plumage, wide white tail band visible in undertail, thin white terminal tail band, yellow cere (the photo doesn't do justice to the dark yellow cere I saw on the bird), and long yellow legs (again, not as dark yellow in the photo as in my spotting scope). The dark tip on the bill is visible in both photos. Though the eyes are not visible, it is apparent (knowing that the birds eyes were open) that the eyes are dark.

This is one of the photos I took of the hawk. These are taken with my 12X digital camera then cropped to enlarge photo. This photo is not edited in any other manner or enhanced with photo software. I do have more photos that I need to crop that I will post later.

SeEtta

Common Black Hawk walking on gravel bar

It was so cool last night when I saw the Common Black Hawk down on a gravel bar in the Arkansas River. I had read, and been told by others, that this species uses its long legs to walk on sand and gravel bars, and even walks in the water as it pursues prey. I did not see the hawk go after any prey, but certainly there might be crawdads and frogs around the gravel bar and fish in the water around it.

The first photo has been cropped to enlarge it for better viewing (though this pushes
it as the pic is getting blurry). The second photo is how the photo appears before being cropped to enlarge it. I took it at about 1.5X (equivalent to 72 mm on a 35 mm camera), so it shows a slightly closer view than was seen with my naked eyes.

The white tail band is visible in the enlarged photo and can just be seen in the original photo.

Common Black Hawk pic

Finally, Blogger.com let me post a photo. I took this of the Common Black Hawk when it was in Canon City last year. I haven't been able to get a photo this year. SeEtta

More great birding in Canon City

This morning I birded the eastern section of the Canon City Riverwalk where I found a mixed flock of warblers. There were several Yellow Warblers and Wilson's-then I found a Northern Parula. Northern Parula is a vagrant in this area. I believe this bird was in Alternate I (or 1st year non-breeding) plumage. The bird had a yellow chest, grayish lores, 2 wing bars, white belly/undertail coverts/undertail feathers. The colors were muted and I didn't see any chestnut.

An apparently curious Gray Catbird worked its way up with foliage to check me out. Black-headed Grosbeak and Western Tanagers feasted on wild grape and other berry-like fruit in the area. And I was delighted that the mosquitos were light enough in this area to blow then away when I needed to stand still.

At my friend's farm I found an Olive-sided Flycather and a male Townsend's Warbler, both migrating through. I saw/heard two Black Phoebes there today. At the MacKenzie Ave bridge I found another Black Phoebe under the bridge.

The most interesting bird was an intriguing hawk. It was blackish, with a wide white band across tail and a small black terminal tail band-both on upperside of tail (I didn't see lower side). I only saw it perched from the rear then flying away 2X's. It was quite shy and it flew into the trees where I lost it. It was on the other side of the river and I couldn't access that area. I tried unsuccessfully to refind it by driving to another river access and rechecked first area later this evening without success. I have searched Wheeler's "Raptors", Sibley's and Birds of North America. A possibility might be a dark-morph Broad-winged Hawk, but listed as rare by Wheeler (though not sure if that would be less likely than other possibilities like early dark-phase Rough-winged or even Common Black-Hawk).
SeEtta

Greater Roadrunner in Canon City

I stopped by the MacKenzie bridge for about 20 minutes this morning to look for the Common Black Hawk. It hasn't been seen for a week, but I have been out of town for most or all day since then, and there have been few other birders to look for it so it is unclear if it might still be around.

One other birder from out of the area stopped by for a short time to also look for the hawk. He mentioned having seen a Greater Roadrunner for the first time right near the Fremont County line off High Park Rd north of Canon City. Only about 5 minutes later as I turned to look to the south of the bridge to see if the hawk might be flying past as it has done in the past, there was a Greater Roadrunner walking across MacKenzie Ave only about 15 feet south of the bridge. The roadrunner looked at me, and I stood quite still so it would resume its travel across the road as I could hear vehicles coming. The roadrunner disappeared into the weedy area on the side of the road.

This is not where I am accustomed to seeing roadrunners--adjacent to the riparian area with hay fields for quite a distance on both sides of the road. Of course, the Arkansas River makes a great corridor for a variety of wildlife that are moving through the area. And Birds of North America notes that they are found in woodland areas and occasionally in open farmlands so I guess it wasn't as unusual for the bird to be in the area where I saw it.

SeEtta

Sabine's Gull in Canon City

Yesterday a Sabine's Gull was found by some birders who had come to Canon City to look for the Common Black-Hawk (which wasn't seen yesterday). Though a fairly rare gull, there have been several sightings of Sabine's Gulls around the state including in the southwest corner, Ft Collins, and Colorado Springs.

The Sabine's Gull is actually a arctic gull that winters in the Subtropic and Tropical coastal areas. Though most migrate along the coast, small numbers migrate through the United States.

I watched the Sabine's Gull for quite awhile. It looked like it was having success in catching prey in the water. It also looked like it enjoyed flushing Canada Geese and also Killdeer by flying at them as though it was a predator.

Sabine's Gulls are fairly small and look a lot like terns. They are also much more attractive than most gulls in my opinion. I got some great pics but blogger isn't letting me post photos tonight so will have to wait until tomorrow.

SeEtta

Day 9--Black Phoebe family-action later that day

I returned in the late afternoon on Day 9 and found the family had returned to their shady shelter in the trees overhanging the water. I could see an adult catching insects and bringing them into the foliage, which always caused a small uproar of "baby bird chirping" (sounds like many other baby birds when parents bring them food). Frustrated that I still could not see the fledglings inside the cover of the limbs and leaves, I carefully came up from the other side where I continued being frustrated as they just weren't visible from any location (at least any location where I would not disturb them).

As I sat watching for a glimpse of a bird sallying out after an insect, 2 Common Grackles flew into the area where the Black Phoebes were located. The grackles were making loud grackles calls and there was a hub-bub, then the I saw 3 Black Phoebes fly out and away from the disruption. The grackles kept up with their squawking and after a few minutes I found (when it flew out, followed again by the grackles) that they had followed/chased a Cooper's Hawk into the tree. It was getting late and I didn't want to stress the Black Phoebes by trying to refind them so left for the day.
SeEtta

Buena Vista area

As I noted in last night's post, I led a field trip yesterday morning at the conclusion of our state Audubon convention. After we left the Chalk Creek Fish Hatchery in the Nathrop area, we took the scenic route (CR321) to Buena Vista. This route has fantastic views of the upper Arkansas River valley. It also winds through some nice ponderosa pine habitat.

Along this county road we found Pygmy Nuthatches, Mountain Bluebirds and a Swainson's Hawk (not very common in the mountains though it was in a location with a lot of grasslands, which is their habitat).

In the town of Buena Vista we found a good concentration of Lewis's Woodpeckers, observing more than 15 in a half mile drive through a residential area with lots of large cottonwood trees (where they nest). We also saw a Hairy Woodpecker and several Northern Flickers in this area. In an area with pinyon-juniper habitat we found an Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewees and an empid (Empidonax flycatcher) species as well as two flocks (about 20 in each) of Bushtits. And though I had seen several Pinyon Jays the day before when I scouted the area, we only heard their (raucous and unmistakeable) calls on the trip.

In an area of Buena Vista that has several lakes, one of our birders spotted a Black Tern (unusual in this area). Another unusual (though not as rare as is often stated) was a Common Nighthawk flying around in late morning (after the field trip I saw 2 Common Nighthawks flying in early afternoon there).

Other birds I in Buena Vista in the afternoon after the field trip included a flock of 8-10 Cedar Waxwing, several Yellow-headed Blackbirds, a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk, a juvenile Red-naped Sapsucker and Brewer's Sparrows (including one feeding a fledgling which may indicate local breeding).

The Buenva Vista area provides quite good birding. It is at about 8,000 feet elevation and lies in a high mountain valley in which the Arkansas River flows down from it's headwaters just north of here in the Leadville area.

SeEtta

Lower Arkansas Valley

Today I birded some of the many lakes in the lower Arkansas Valley. The weather was quite warm for this early in April, going over 80 degrees. Most of the lakes in this area are irrigation reservoirs so their water levels vary according to how much water the irrigation company is allowed to store and how much has been run out for irrigating the farm fields. However, these are often excellent for shorebird migration in spring as well as drawing many other birds.

I usually stop at the Ordway Feed Lot on my way in to Lake Meredith as the ponds south of it and the ditches by the side of the road can be quite productive. There wasn't a lot here today--2 Lesser Scaup, 1 Cinnamon Teal, some Mallards, a few white-headed gulls (those I checked were Ring-billed), some White-crowned Sparrows in the vegetation and 6-8 Franklin Gulls flying around.

Lake Meredith is a fairly large lake (for Colorado), but much of it is bordered by private farm land and inaccesssible. The State Wildlife Area portion is on the north side and so it is accessed from the town of Ordway. I found 3 Ibis species, 1 Great Egret, 2 Aechmophorus grebes, several American Avocet (including the one in the pic), 1 Greater Yellowlegs and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs around the shore. There were rafts of hundreds of Ruddy Ducks and Northern Shovelers with miscellaneous common waterfowl on the lake.

At nearby Lake Henry, bird action was quite slow for this often very productive lake for shorebirds, waterfowl and other waterbirds. I saw 1 Common Goldeneye, 1 N. Shoveler, 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 2 Mallards and a bunch of Killdeer---that's lean.

Lake Cheraw, another irrigation reservior that is a hot spot especially for shorebird migration, was also pretty slow. I saw 4 American Avocets, some Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Coots, and Killdeer.

My last stop was Lake Holbrook which is a close to La Junta. I saw my first Black-necked Stilts (3) of the year. Tehre were at least 4 Greater Yellowlegs and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, several American Avocet and lots of Killdeer (they nest along the shore which is astounding given all the vehicles that drive around the lake). There were several Pintail Ducks and 1 Cinnamon Teal along with common waterfowl seen at the other lakes.

I saw my first Swainson's Hawk of the year today. Other birds seen included a few Red-tailed Hawks, several American Kestrals, the ubiquitous Horned Larks and 1 Vesper Sparrow (they are just migrating back).

Conspicuously missing today was American White Pelican--they are arriving at northern areas of the state and are always present on these lower Arkansas Valley lakes from spring thru summer.

SeEtta

Crowley County

After a morning appointment I drove to Crowley County to check some of the lakes in the area. Lake Meredith was fairly active with both Western and Clark's Grebes giving their "advertising calls" as part of their courting behavior; however, I did not observe other courting behaviors. Another treat were the Stilt Sandpipers. About 15 of them were working the shore along the north side of the lake. Occasionally the sun would hit the rufous cheek patch on one, the color making for a more striking appearance.

An unusual sight was a Sanderling that appeared to be still in Basic (non-breeding) Plumage when it should be in Alternate (breeding) Plumage. However I just read that this species undergoes a partial Definitive Prealternate molt so need to run my photos by those who know the molt patterns of this species better than I do (not til tomorrow as I have to do some editing). Other birds including 1 Snowy Egret, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, a number of American Avocets as well as distant mixed waterfowl and gulls.

A the nearby Crowley feedlot ponds and drainage areas were 6 Black-necked Stilts including one I saw sitting on a nest. There were also several White-faced Ibis. And I saw at least 2 Northern Mockingbirds in the area.

Nearby Lake Henry was slow with fewer Western and Clark's Grebes. One male Yellow-headed Blackbird emitted their dissonant call. There was some distant waterfowl and at least one Ring-billed Gull on the lake. A Burrowing Owl sat on top of a post in the prairie dog town next to the lake, providing me with a great photo subject. However, the photo upload is not working so will have to put photos tomorrow.

I found a nesting Swainson's Hawk not far from Lake Henry. Other birds seen around Crowley County included Western Kingbirds (which are abundant), Bullock's Orioles (commonly seen), Killdeer (also abundant), Black-billed Magpies (abundant), Lark Sparrows (common), Horned Larks (very abundant), Western Meadowlarks (abundant).

It's late so will add the birding I did in Otero County then too.

SeEtta

Upper Arkansas update

I birded my way back from Vail where I attended a dinner last night, hitting a number of locations. I will summarize those locations:

Hayden Ranch-Leadville-just south of Leadville at around 10,000 feet; no fee
-Lincoln's Sparrow-1
-Blue-winged Teal-2
-Vesper Sparrow-1 singing, probably on territory
-White-crowned Sparrows-several

Kobe-Arkansas River Ranch Recreation Area--a little further south of Leadville, but
still close to 10,000 feet elevation; need parks pass
-Eastern Kingbird-1
-Yellow Warblers-several singing
-Redwing Blackbirds-several
-American Robins-several
-Common Grackles-several
-Red-tailed Hawk-1

Ice Lake in Buena Vista (this is the lake where the developers had requested a
depretory take permit; be sure you stay on road and don't trespass)
-American White Pelican-only 1 (DOW manager has been harassing with non-lethal)
-Common Goldeneye-1 male straggler remains (should be far north in Canada or Alaska)
-Cinnamon Teal-1 male
-Blue-winged Teal-several
-Gadwalls-several
-Yellow-headed Blackbirds-several
-Mallards-many
-Canada Geese-many
-Red-winged Blackbirds-many
(and more distant waterfowl too far to id)

CR47 bridge over Arkansas River-
-no dippers found this time; water very high due to runoff and no rocks for perching

Vallie bridge-
-American Dipper-1 adult feeding 1 fledgling

Texas Creek bridge-
-American Dipper-1 adult and 1 fledgling; adult spent time under bridge so maybe
feeding another/more fledglings or have nestlings still there

And I located 1 Black Phoebe in western Fremont County but have time to check 2nd location.

SeEtta

Colorado Springs

Before leaving for Colorado Springs I was serenaded by a Gray Catbird in my backyard. Two years ago a pair of catbirds nested next to a window, providing me with a front-row seat for their nest building, sharing of chores, hatching of eggs and watching the nestlings grow. Last year they nested somewhere nearby in my neighborhood, visiting my yard frequently. I would be delighted to host their nest again.

While in Colorado Spring this afternoon, I took the opportunity to do a little birding. I haven't had the chance to do any birding there in a while. There are some interesting and productive birding areas right in and around the city.

Fountain Creek Nature Center, just south of Colorado Springs, has a history of some good bird diversity especially during spring migration. I was astounded to see more than 15 Swainson's Thrushes (maybe even 20) on one side of their Nature Center! I ran into some birders who told me they were part of the International Migratory Bird Day count group yesterday that found a Grey-cheeked Thrush (a big rarity here). One of the birders said that there were more Swainson's Thrushes on the south side of the Nature Center but I had very limited time so couldn't check it out and didn't see the Grey-cheeked Trush.

I also got the opportunity in the late afternoon to do some birding along the Colorado Trail as it follows Monument Creek in a great green-belt. I entered at the Woodman Rd trailhead, an area I have never been on before. I was quite impressed as it winds up and down some hills adjacent to Monument Creek with mixed pine habitat. I saw several Spotted Towhees, a species quite common in many parks and trail areas in Colorado Springs. I heard a number of Yellow Warblers and House Wrens singing near the creek and caught site of a Common Yellowthroat as it skulked away from me. I was surprised to come upon 2 Spotted Sandpipers along the muddy edges of the creek. A Red-tailed Hawk soared over while Black-tailed Magpies flew back and forth, stopping to check me and my dogs out.

SeEtta

Canon City Riverwalk

I birded the Canon City Riverwalk this afternoon. With temps in the 70's, I didn't expect to see a lot of bird activity since birds tend to disperse more during really nice weather. But I was delighted to find 4-5 Eastern Bluebirds doing some acrobatic flights among the trees along the Riverwalk. Though Eastern Bluebirds are quite unusual here, we have seen at least one small flock each winter for the past several years.

While I was watching the bluebirds, a Cooper's Hawk flew overhead and the several Black-capped Chickadees quieted briefly. There were a few Green-winged Teal dabbling in the Arkansas River with several Mallards, and I saw a pair of Common Mergansers floating downstream. Other birds seen, all common here, were Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos, dark geese, Rock Pigeons and Starlings.

SeEtta

Lathrop State Park, Walsenburg

I stopped at Latrop State Park this afternoon on my way to Trinidad. This is a good birding spot just a few miles west of Walsenburg. There were high wind warnings on the road and the winds were causing white caps on both Martin and Horseshoe Lakes so it was hard to see some of the waterfowl (but these were chinook winds so the temps were in the mid to upper 50's in late afternoon) There was only one Bald Eagle and it was sitting on the edge of a little ice on Horsehoe Lake. Probably due to its presence and the bad winds, I couldn't find any waterfowl on this smaller lake.

Martin Lake had one female Greater Scaup. Surprisingly there weren't any loons. There were small flocks of Common Goldeneye, Redheads, Common Mergansers (all but one were males), white-headed gulls on the lake. I finally found a small flock of 8 Bushtits--this lake has groves of pinyon-juniper all around it so I usually see lots of Bushtits here. There were only a few dark-headed geese visible though others may have been on the adjacent golf course that I didn't check out. A single Red-tailed Hawk played in the winds. I also saw several flocks of Robins and a flock of 10-15 Black-billed Magpies.

There were also Gadwalls, Green-winged Teal and some Mallards on the small wetland pond south of Horseshoe Lake.

Tomorrow I will check out Trinidad Lake in hopes the big arctic front coming through will have brought some interesting waterfowl there.
SeEtta