Eastern Arapahoe County

[Chris Goulart]

Yesterday I birded for a few hours in the far-east part of Arapahoe County around Byers, Deer Trail and Peoria.  I was struck by the number of Loggerhead Shrikes that I observed with a conservative count of about 30.  However, there were probably more as I found many of them in pairs.  

Raptors were observed in good numbers too.  A M/F pair of Prairie Merlins were found at Richmil Ranch Open Space.  Also observed were 7 harriers, a kettle of about 20 Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 4 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Ferruginous Hawk, one Prairie Falcon, 6 Kestrels, and 2 Great-horned Owls.  Seeing an early Swainson's Hawk and a late Rough-legged Hawk were pretty cool as well.

Between the raptors and shrikes, the rodents don't stand a chance.

Chris Goulart

Aurora, CO