Larimer County hawks and other birds

[Libby Edwards]

Getting out of the heat this past week, I have spent a delightful time above treeline.  Two days ago on the way to Mount Ida from Poudre Pass, I saw 2 roughed-legged hawks hovering and then diving into the krumholtz.  They did this several times.  On this same trip, I watched a prairie falcon buzz a few marmots who were calling in alarm.  Along the way there was a female ptarmigan with 2 pretty small chicks among the rocks in the tundra.  I hope they grow fast before the cold sets in.  

Today on the way to Montgomery Pass near Cameron Pass, there was a large flock of mixed warblers moving upslope in the morning in an open meadow surrounded by dead and live spruce and fir.  I was able to ID male and female Wilson's warblers and male and female Townsend's warblers flitting around with lots of juncos and chickadees.  I watched parent chickadees feed their fledgling young.  Then on top of the pass, 2 rough-legged hawks were soaring up and down the ridges, over our heads.

In the yard yesterday in our big honey locust there was a yellow warbler, a red-eyed vireo, and a western tanager.  Migration is on.

Libby Edwards
Fort Collins
Larimer County