We really wanted to find a Snowy Owl today, and were beginning to wonder if we would have any luck.  Then, on Heritage Road, at what seemed like a million miles away, we spotted one.  At least we got one for the books!

After driving many miles, I was wondering if today was going to be a “One Hit Wonder” type of day. We stopped beside the Vernal (non-existant) Ponds to eat our lunch, and along came a Northern Harrier, bobbing along the grasslands and taking a couple of dives trying get something to eat.  That was encouraging, as we hadn’t seen any on the last survey.

It did feel like a very empty day with not spotting the usual raptors.  Then, we turned onto Highway 17, that very busy road with huge semi trucks going 70 miles an hour and nowhere for us to pull off. In the middle of all this hustle and bustle, the buteos came in. We had a hard time identifying them as we dodged the traffic and they flew from pole to tree to pole.

“OK, I’ve got the one in the tree. Can you keep your eye on that one on the pole up ahead.?”

“Got it!“

“Oh, there are TWO in the tree, and one flying overhead. The one overhead has carpal patches.”

“One in the tree took off.”

“Do you see dark patagials?”

“Yes! And a belly band.”

And so the conversation continued. 

In what seemed like a pretty small area, we picked up five Red-tailed Hawks and seven Rough-legged Hawks in not much time. We also spotted one Prairie Falcon in the vicinity.

  Even though it’s not a raptor, we did spot the first Western Meadowlark we had seen this year.

Driving along on the road to Mold, and the Hawk Rock (see last month’s blog), there is a very interesting barn.  We keep thinking that one stiff wind will blow it over.  But, it still stands.

Here is a summary of what we saw today:
Red-tailed Hawk. 7
Northern Harrier. 1
Rough-legged Hawk. 7
Prairie Falon 1
Snowy Owl. 1