Environment:
Start Time: 9:35 AM Temperature: 45 degrees Sky: Sun and clouds with wind-like breeze.
With hopes of beating the predicted high winds I headed out for a morning tour of the Rock Canyon Area of Lake Pueblo State Park. The temperature was decent and the fairly stiff breeze (wind preview) did not seem to add to the Spring chill in the air. What the breezy conditions did provide was quite a few Red-tailed hawks who were having a great time soaring and wheeling over the park. Today’s featured image is one of those hawks taking flight after a brief rest period. The same hawk is pictured below. Also out today were a couple of American Kestrels one of which I got to watch drive a Red-tailed Hawk from its perch. I got a poor shot of a Belted Kingfisher perched along the Arkansas River – I just can’t get close enough to one of these guys to get a decent shot. Also posted is a shot of the first Say’s Phoebe that I have seen this year. I saw no sign of Cormorants and the Osprey were laying low.
Sightings:
Birds: Mallards, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Buffleheads, Canada Geese, American White Pelican, Osprey, Pied-billed Grebe, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Say’s Phoebe, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Blue Jay
Critters: Mule Deer, Cabbage White Butterfly
Gear: Nikon Panasonic Lumix GH4, 100-300mm
Say’s Phoebe perching at Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado March 23, 2022 
Belted Kingfisher perched along the Arkansas River at Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado March 23, 2022 
Red-tailed Hawk perching high above Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado March 23, 2022