Today’s Raptor Ramblings might have more rambling than raptors.  But, some days are like that!  Today turned out to be a very unique day, for more than one reason.  But, maybe, when you go on an adventure every day is unique!

First off, a winter raptor survey doesn’t usually start with a flat tire, but it did today.  Well, almost flat…. To make a long story short, I ended up with four new winter tires this morning.  I wasn’t really expecting to do that. But, that’s how it turned out.  One good thing about it is that I don’t have to worry about getting a flat tire out in the middle of nowhere now!

Heading up the Bridgeport Hill Road toward the start of the route at Mansfield Road (N. Oil Rd), we left the fog behind, which was a relief.  One never knows what you will find when Waterville is engulfed in fog. But, reaching the route start, the skies opened up.  As we drive along the West Foster Creek Wildlife Area, we are always startled at the scarring from the fires from over a year ago. 

Another unique thing about this month’s survey is the lack of birds of prey.  Along the route today, there were no Red-tailed Hawks, no American Kestrels, no Northern Harriers.  I wondered where they all went.  Maybe such heavy snow cover prevents hunting and they have moved elsewhere. There were a few Rough-legged Hawks, which we were happy to see!

Leaving Penny Lake we laughed at a group of Mule Deer lounging in the snow, as though it was a warm blanket. Heading south toward Mansfield, a group of Chukars decided they weren’t sticking around! Their picture is at the top of the blog.

The resident Merlin in the town of Mansfield, showed up again!  Maybe some day one of us will get a picture that we can post. We kept our eyes open for Snowy Owls as we crept along the roads where they have been seen in previous times, but no one showed up today.  

Talk about unique!  We saw something today that we have never seen before!  I have read about porcupines sleeping in the branches of trees in the winter. Today we saw three of them sleeping in trees!  What a sight! 

When we drove down towards the north end of Jameson Lake, the resident Golden Eagle at Bennett Lake was there to greet us.  Supposedly there is a nest in the basalt.  I would love to locate it.

Here is a summary of what was seen today. Hopefully more will show up next month!

Golden Eagle – 1
Rough-legged Hawks – 7
Merlin – 1