High Plains Birding Club: Raptor/Crane Alley Field Trip #1 Results/Weld

[The "Nunn Guy"]

Fantastic day for raptoring on Saturday--zero wind, 70s, great group of birders and thermals.  We totaled 56 raptors including:

• Swainson's Hawk - 1
• Ferruginous Hawk - 7 (one chasing Northern Harrier)
• Red-tailed Hawk - 18
• American Kestrel - 13
• Great Horned Owl - 2
• UNID buteo - 3 (distance)
• Northern Harrier - 5
• Golden Eagle - 2
• Prairie Falcon - 3 (one being feverishly chased by the raven)
• Cooper's Hawk - 1
• UNID accipiter - 1
  

Two treats for the day were over 1,000+ Sandhill Crane overhead and six Turkey Vulture riding thermals.

"Raptor Alley" Trip (2015-2016) reporting:

    October 17 - 56 raptors
    October 14 - 22 raptors

Other wildlife:  1,000+ Sandhill Crane, Pronghorn, Mountain Bluebird, Common Raven, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, White-crowned Sparrow

"Raptor Alley" Trip (2014-2015) reporting:

    October 20 - 39 raptors
    November 2 - 39 raptors
    November 22 - 66 raptors

Other wildlife:  Pronghorn; Coyote and American Tree Sparrows

Last year's (2013-2014) "Raptor Alley" reporting:

    October 13 - 25 raptors
    October 26 - 30 raptors
    December 1 - 47 raptors
    December 15 - 43 raptors
    January 11 - 57 raptors
    February 23 - 45 raptors

Average Count Per 2013-2014 Trip- 41 raptor

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn
http://coloradobrider.ning.com/
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