Trail Log 1995-1997 - Lamar at Colorado State University

Trail Log 1997
February 22, 1997, Saturday. Raptor trip with Audubon south of town. About 15 eagles, mostly
immature balds. About six adult balds. Two nice golden eagles in the sky. The highlight was five,
then eight eagles all out in an open field, where they were gathered apparently because of a bit of
prairie dog carcass that one of them had. Later, in cottonwood trees, there were two, one of which
was eating a prairie dog. Several ferruginous hawks, although I was not all that clear about their
identification. One coyote, seen moving across field. Sue Kenney, works for City of Fort Collins
Open Space. Led by Bill Miller, president of Fort Collins Audubon Society. Richard Harkness had
the new photographic guide to raptors.
March 16, 1997. Eagles at the plains reservoirs. Nice day. Coyote at the S. Platte River at
Masters, watched him about a minute. Nice pair of pheasants, male and female, seen at length out
on the road. Redtail hawk. Two male pheasants. White-crowned sparrows. At Riverside
Reservoir: 1 adult bald on far shore, then eight bald eagles on a rounded sand island, two of which
were adults. Then 2 adults on the ice, and 1 adult perched on far side. Total 12 here. Lake was
open water, some ice in the bays. Lake was loaded with gulls, especially, more than I have ever
seen there. Lots of scaup. Bufflehead. Mergansers. Four pelicans.
On return toward Empire Reservoir: rough-leg hawk soaring, nice white tail with black tip, tail is
definitely longish. Mallards.
At Empire. 1 adult bald eagle on ice. 3 in trees across the bay, one an adult. Total 4 here. 4 snow
geese. Pintails. Reheads. Shovelers. 10 Great Blue herons, in a roost across the bay. On
leaving, a great horned owl sitting on her nest, just up the road from the rough parking lot. Seen
nicely in scope.
Drive toward Orchard along the river. Kestrel. After Orchard, one adult bald eagle soaring over the
river.
At Jackson Lake. One adult in the air leaving the lake area. One immature bald eagle perched and
flew off as I drive on. Lunched at the far north boat ramp. 1 adult bald eagle perched further north.
1 adult flying low over the water. 1 immature flying over the water. 4 perched in distant tree, one
an adult. Total at Jackson Lake 9.
At Prewitt. 1 single and then 3 bald eagles in trees across the lake on south side, 2 of these were
adults. 12 great blue herons. All these lakes were loaded with ring-bill gulls, more by far than I
have ever seen here. Total at Prewitt: 4. Total for the day 30 bald eagles. One of my better days,
as I recall, for the totals. But none of them were as close up as I sometimes see them.
March 18, 97. Comet Hale-Bopp nicely visible in the evening sky. An evident comet with a nice
tail. A student said you could see it right at the start of my Science and Religion class, so we all