MATT

Thanks Emily! This bear was panting really hard, like he'd been running for a while. I imagine he was getting barked at and maybe chased by dogs when he moved through the residential area. We were glad to see him find some cover to stop in far out in the hay meadow away from the houses. I think the bears are having a hard time finding natural food sources because of the impacts of the drought we had earlier this summer.

Sorry about the poor photos. The batteries died in my camera so I took these with my phone cam. I spotted another dusky hen and chicks today and got much better photos that I'll post.

Hi alicelongmartin, I have taken your suggestion and made the second photo first.

Thanks, I have joined your mission.

Hi Christy, thanks for correcting me. I had my doubts about my identification. We had seen a swainson's hawk earlier that day not far from there, and when we spotted this one I thought I saw a white rump patch when in flight which made me think harrier. Thinking back on it though, the wind was roughing up the feathers pretty good so I was probably just seeing white body feathers and perhaps some of the white undertail coverts. I will correct the identification. Thanks for helping me learn.

Thanks! I have joined your mission and will add more raptor photos.

It looks like your observation was on the Arapaho National Forest, Clear Creek Ranger District. Here is their website with contact info:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinte...

If you call the Ranger District just mention that you would like to report a wildlife sighting to the wildlife bio. It would be interesting to know if you found an unknown/undocumented site or if it is one the Forest Service and CO Natural Heritage Program know about.

Nice find! If you were on National Forest, the wildlife biologist for that Forest would be interested in your find. The Colorado Natural Heritage program would be interested in it as well - they monitor boreal toad populations/breeding sites in the state.

Western kingbird?