Suggestion: Look for Broad-winged Hawks right now

[Ted Floyd]

Hey, everybody.

Well, the skies have finally cleared, sort of, and winds are out of the south. Not surprisingly, I saw one or two broad-winged hawks over Boulder Creek at 75th St., Boulder County, just a bit earlier today, Tues., Apr. 19. If there is indeed a flight under way today, I imagine it will pick up in the next couple hours. Look up!

By the way, the black phoebe put on a nice show near the the 75th St. bridge.

Ted Floyd

Lafayette, Boulder County

[David Wade]

Thanks, Ted. I was pondering where to go birding this afternoon when I read your post. I decided to try Running Deer Natural Area in Ft Collins, that's where I saw my lifer Broad-winged Hawk a few April's ago. Lo and behold, not more than 50 yards from where I saw my first, there was one perched in a cottonwood! Coincidental to that, there were a couple of guys from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (DOW) working nearby. I pointed out the hawk to one of them and it was his lifer Broad-winged. How bout that! That was just one of the many highlights I had today. In the playa that was Artist Point pond were 11 Avocets and a lone female Hooded Merganser. I was wondering if she may have been sizing up nesting possibilities in Cottonwood Hollow? From the White Pine Fire Lookout I could see the Bald Eagles have a pair of good sized eaglets. I also spotted a pair of Wild Turkeys of which I seem to be seeing more frequently around the town itself. Finally, I saw a Krider's Red-tail that I suspect is nesting somewhere around the Boxelder Sanitation station. A great day, thanks again Ted!

David Wade
Ft Collins, CO