Eagles today

Drove over by the Snow Buntings on 100th today. We watched for about 15 seconds, then a truck drove by and flushed them into the corn stubble away from the road. We couldn't see them any more.

Ran at Afton SP for about an hour and a half - running & walking & watching the raptors. I looked down to check my footing, then I'd look up to check the skies. Loren & I counted 22 eagles so far today. They are both mature (white head, white tail) and immature (mostly dark) eagles. Also saw 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and two unidentified raptors.

Also found a mixed flock of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins feeding on the cedars. Loren counted 20 waxwings and I counted 5 robins. There were more hidden in the branches of the cedars.

Start temp: 18 degrees
End temp: 22 degrees
Mostly cloudy, wind 5 - 10 mph
Partial snow cover

Snowy Afton

Luckily, many of the birds have migrated. Several flocks were still seen. The two identified were American Robin and American Tree Sparrow. The other 3 flocks I didn't see well enough to ID.

Just outside the park to the south, was a Bald Eagle with a beautiful white head and tail. Not sure what it was doing on the ground. When we drove over to investigate, it flew away and I couldn't find it again.

On the west side of the park, I saw a Northern Harrier. It seemed to be flying towards the south but not in a direct line and didn't appear to be hunting.