[Douglbirds] Great Horned Owls , Northern Shrike & Goldeneye

[Bill McAdoo]

Yesterday we took a ride to Walker Pit.  First we spotted a Common Goldeneye 
amongst the 100 or so Canadian Geese on the pond.  A few Mallards were there 
as well.
On the trail from the parking area to the Cottonwood patch, we saw a 
Northern Shrike sitting on the top of a tree looking about, several Flickers 
and a Belted Kingfisher diving in the stream.  Got a few good pictures of 
the Shrike & Kingfisher.
When we got to to the nest, Sheri heard a Great Horned Owl calling, but we 
did not see it or any movement in the nest.  However there were 2 Red-Tailed 
Hawks soaring around the tree with the nest.  Has the Battle for the Nest 
ensued?

Bill & Sheri McAdoo
Franktown, CO

> Great Horned Owls have made a pre-emptive strike on the Red-tailed Hawk 
> nest on Walker Road. For the last several years red-tails nested in a big 
> nest in a tall cottonwood east of Walker Road (just west of Franktown, on 
> the way to the infamous Walker Pit). This month (at least the last two 
> days) we've seen an owl sitting in the nest, apparently incubating eggs. 
> Our first Atlas confirmation for 2008!
>
> We also saw the White-fronted Goose today at the Walker Pit (among the 500 
> Canda and Cackling geese -- at Noon; we saw no geese there at 9 a.m.
>
> Hugh Kingery
> Franktown, CO