Cold Weather Birding



Red-tailed Hawk eating its kill in a recently plowed ag field.

 This is the coldest weather I have ever experienced in the Valley - morning temps in Mesa were 24 degrees.  My bird bath was frozen solid!  So today and yesterday I birded from within the comfy confines of my home and my car.  I've discovered that cold birds are hungry birds, so I went out looking for raptors.  Right off the bat, I saw my first ever adult Bald Eagle soaring by while on the 202 freeway.  We cruised around through the ag fields southeast of Scottsdale Community College and within minutes spotted a Red-tailed Hawk tearing apart its prey in a recently plowed field.  An American Kestrel swooped down and whizzed by our heads, possibly ticked off that we were annoying his hunting partner.  Later we came upon a large (approx. 24" tall) mostly grey and white hawk perched mid-level in a cottonwood tree.  Someone help me out here - I'm guessing a female Northern Harrier or a Ferruginous Hawk?  I'm probably way off, so feel free to correct me. Unfortunately I didn't get a good view of the tail or rump patch.