Saw our first-of-the-season Dark-morph Rough-leg along Disposal Road this afternoon, at about 4:30. (Thanks to Mike Girone and Ron Shields for pointing it out, perched, at right).
Also saw a few pheasants.
Daily Archives: February 10, 2011
Raptor Report 021011
Mike Girone, intent on outdoing our recent report on Disposal Road, says:
Hung out on Disposal Rd. for much of [Wednesday] afternoon, and the raptors put on a classic show!
3 Bald Eagles were spotted from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (#1: possible 4th year bird; #2: 2nd or 3rd year bird; #3: 4th year/near-adult). All were soaring northbound.Up to 3 Red-tailed Hawks were visible at once.
At least 3 Northern Harriers patrolling the edges of the landfill (including 1 Gray Ghost, photo above).
A light-morph Rough-leg was frequently seen hover-hunting the area from 2:45 to 4:10 p.m. (the 2nd Bald Eagle of the afternoon was soaring by during one of the Rough-leg's hunting displays).
A Peregrine Falcon (possibly a juvenile) flew in from the east, following the Saw Mill power lines, then along Disposal Rd. heading west. Lost it behind the trees, but it did briefly soar out beyond the retention pond, looked to be hunting.
And not to be out-done, up to 5 Ring-necked Pheasants were seen foraging on the side of the landfill (mainly males, 1 female was seen).
Raptor Jamboree (Once Again)
Not to sound like a broken record, but Disposal Road is a daily raptor jamboree — just have to be there at the right time.
We were there yesterday at the right time — on our lunch hour, around 12:45.
First came the kiting the Red-tail, halfway between the Carillon and DeKorte.(Photo below, and yes, it needs to get that secondary feather fixed.)
Then came the Gray Ghost,on the landfill across from the Carillon, and too elusive to photograph.
Then came the light-morph Rough-leg (above and left), who was not the least bit camera-shy — too busy hunting. It worked the side of the landfill from the Carillon two-thirds of the way to DeKorte.
These birds are offering great, prolonged looks. Check out the Rough-legs while they're still in town.
