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

[Cathy Sheeter]

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