Map: http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=blanca+co&sll=36.994413,-104.480281&sspn=0.008398,0.013754&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Blanca,+Costilla,+Colorado&ll=37.663032,-105.799541&spn=0.066586,0.175095&t=h&z=13
Observation date: 6/8/10
Number of species: 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Western) - Buteo jamaicensis calurus 3
Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta 5
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark/id
We decided to head northwest from the Great Sand Dunes to a resort in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. While driving west from GSD NP towards HWY-17 I spotted several Red-tailed Hawks perched atop telephone poles; watching astutely for a meal. Unlike the RTHs I see in Oklahoma, this morph was very dark - I think Ebird may even classify it as a seperate species (Red-tailed Hawk - Western). If so, that would be another addition to my Lifelist. I will investigate the matter.
Within the same small stretch that I saw the RTHs, I saw 5 (or more) Western Meadowlarks. I am used to seeing the eastern version, so the Western form will be added to my Lifelist as number 177!
-Photo courtesy of Kevin Cole, via Wikipedia.
-SPQ 6/16/2010
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