Arizona Raptors

These last two early mornings in the Avra and Altar Valleys have proved good for raptors. Yesterday morning, Ani and I found a carcass attended by two Black Vultures, along with numerous Turkey Vultures; Black Vultures are very local in Arizona, but more or less to be expected out that way.

And this morning, Gene and I enjoyed two Prairie Falcons hunting round-tailed ground-squirrels. This species, common enough in that area in winter, tends to withdraw to mountainside aeries in the summer, making this one of the few warm-season sightings I’ve had in the southeast Arizona lowlands.