Jackpot at Stearns Lake, Boulder County

[Paula Hansley]

At 3:15 pm today, I saw a light adult (dark eye) female Rough-legged Hawk sitting on a stop sign on 104th St.  A photographer at the lake had photographed the hawk two hours before I came, so she was on the sign for at least two hours.  The sign is just east of where 104th goes over the Northwest Parkway.  Then, at the Stearns Lake Open Space area highlight species were, as follows: a singing Marsh Wren (in cornfield east of the dam), at least two dozen Common Grackles (also in cornfield), and at least four Great-tailed Grackles!  The grackles were in a flock of several hundred male Red-winged Blackbirds, which was in the east side of the cornfield and adjacent cottonwoods.   Other blackbird species and starlings may have been in the flock, but I did not have a scope.

Other species:  Red-tailed Hawk (2), Am. Kestrel (1), Am. Tree Sparrow (5), Song Sparrow (1), Mallard (1), and Canada Goose (2), 

The lake is totally frozen.

Paula Hansley

Louisville

[Nancy Rynes]

This particular hawk has been hanging around that area for at least 2 weeks now, hunting from there down into Superior. Please, please use caution if you go out there to view it, not only for your own sake but for the bird's as well. The intersection of 104th and Dillon can be very heavy with traffic and the bird has been perched on road signs very close to the road. S/he has been hunting very close to Dillon Rd and also the Northwest Parkway. I would hate for someone to inadvertently spook the bird into an oncoming auto, so please stay a safe distance away. There is a small pullout on 104th at the intersection of Dillon Rd that is the safest bet for viewing. Best time of day is usually late afternoon - s/he seems to be the most active then.

Some pics available here if anyone is interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63892538@N04/8313004256/in/photostream

http://nancyrynes.photoshelter.com/gallery/Raptors/G00002py9GT4z5d8/

Thanks!

Nancy Rynes

Lafayette, CO