Living with Danger

Whatever that little bug is, it decided to tempt fate a bit on Tuesday afternoon. Flying within inches of a perched Western Kingbird would seem to be a life expectancy limiting move on its part. So did the bug decide to high-tail it out of there, nope.....

It went in for a closer look. Gutsy, and for whatever reason that particular Western Kingbird was content to watch rather than reaching out for an easy snack.
Tuesday was particularly smokey, on that day the fire was still generating a billowing cloud of smoke. The inversion had lifted shortly before, and as I stopped by Singletree Trail the fire bombers began a constant rotation overhead. The day offered a great collection of kingbirds, mostly in the form of a group of Eastern Kingbirds, which seemed to have flocked for migration. Just watching them repeat their aerobatics again and again was a boost for the day, but on my way back I had another surprise.

A tiny bird popped out of the undergrowth at my feet. I sent the following to the COBirds mailing list, because after checking my resources I wasn't sure if a Winter Wren should be expected in Colorado at this time of year:

"...if anyone could advise me on whether a Winter Wren has any degree of likelihood in Colorado in the first week of September, I would appreciate it. This afternoon at apx. 2:30 pm I was walking along the Singletree trail just SW of old Superior. From the trailhead heading west there is a good stretch of heavy brush on the right (north) side, then an old tailing hill, and immediately to the west a group of large cottonwoods. I was directly under those trees shooting photos of some Towhees and Doves out in the distance when I heard a rustling in the low groundcover at my feet. My impression was 100% mouse - it was making small moves out of sight, in thick vegetation 4-6 inches high, but its progress could be perceived as it moved around. I was completely surprised when a tiny Wren popped out almost at my feet. I didn't even attempt a photo, my lens was extended and focused way beyond something that close, and motion would have sent it back to cover even faster. I had 2-3 long seconds as it turned at my feet. My impression was an overall chocolate brown bird, with very limited markings. It gave a couple of short, exposed hopping moves at my feet, flew a short distance to the fallen trunk, and then dove to the larger shrubs beyond. It did not reemerge, and I did not pick up any notes or calls, (but fire bombers are flying directly over the site repeatedly this afternoon). There is a dried creekbed to the north, but I am not aware of any open water near the site. "

I did return to the site that evening and the following morning, but never heard a call, or saw the bird again. I did receive several responses confirming that Winter Wrens were seen in Colorado in Sepetmeber, and that the species fit the description. I had hoped to get a chance to photograph that bird to share, but guess I will have to continue to watch for it. Instead, how about a pair of Eastern Kingbirds?



Finally a recognition out to all the firefighting resources that are working on the Four Mile Canyon fire outside Boulder. The fire has made the national news cycles, so the details are well known, but despite remaining stationary through a pair of calm days the weather is supposed to turn dry, clear and windy - and so the situation may be about to get worse. So far the Betasso Preserve has been just outside the burn area, to the SE, and based on the reports that is the area where some degree of containment has been achieved. However the forecast wind is supposed to be coming in out of the N - NW, so it could be gone quickly. Any direction the fire moves will be bad though, and this is already being called the worst fire in Colorado's history.

I guess in life we are all a bit like the bug. The residents in the foothills of Boulder County trade an ever present risk of fire for the chance to build a home in truly beautiful country. Some, like the bug may luck out and find that the fire has spared their homes by mere inches, while others will have lost everything and have to start anew. Fortunately, all that has been lost so far is replaceable - lets hope that all those working in and around the fire zone remain safe and keep it that way.

2010 Count: 197

Lifetime: 242

On the way to the Airport

I had an evening flight after work on Thursday, from work I took highway 7 straight east from Boulder, and Tower Rd south from Brighton. The best part about that route, (other than avoiding traffic), is that it swings right past Barr Lake State Park, and I had enough time to drive slowly to the boat launch and back before heading on to park for my flight.

I was following a storm out, so the light was a pretty mixed bag, but it was a nice break between work stress and airport stress. There were bunches of Eastern Kingbirds along the access road.

One of the risks of stopping on the way to the airport is that there is a risk that self discipline will fail, and the necessary time to continue on to make the flight seems to come very quickly. Even as I pushed that limit I had to make one stop as I exited the park. A well marked Swainson's Hawk is always worth a quick stop, even in poor light.

Trip details to follow, but I need to work on a replacement for a failed hard drive in my laptop, (apparently Minnesota didn't agree with it).

Coot Lake and a bit of Boulder Reservoir

Friday evening I headed north through Boulder, thinking that I may stop by the Walden Ponds - Sawhill Ponds Complex to see what all was in the area. Due to being on a different road than I realized I was actually further east than I had planned and missed my turn. So instead of fighting traffic and guessing on backroads I continued on up to Coot Lake, just north of Boulder Reservoir.
In addition to many dozens of Red-winged Blackbirds, a few Western Meadowlarks, and six colorful spinning parachutists I got to see an photograph 8 Eastern Kingbirds. Since I wasn't looking for this species I got to try to categorise it based on observations while I was taking pictures. They were actively hunting insects, and let me get very close while they did so. I could watch as they waited, launched, and then made an aerobatic attack before returning to their preferred perch. I had a "duh" moment when I compared my pictures to the guides, and the pictures I had of two Western Kingbirds that were in the same area, behaving in a similar manner.

The colors of the Western are eye catching, but the contrast of black and white on the Eastern, along with that brilliant white tip of the tail make it equally pleasing to watch in the field. These two are definitely favorites.

The picture above was a great surprise. It is a Cliff Swallow that was hunting over the mudflats at the outlet of Boulder Res. I was getting ID shots of some Spotted Sandpipers and Killdeer on the far side, and took a few frames of the swallows as well. I had basically dismissed them in my fascination with the bee in the previous post, (I saw it minutes later). So when I was flipping through this morning and saw this swallow in flight, with it's eye frozen, looking at me as if to say, "Whats the big deal?" I was just blown away. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good!

Just after the random Cliff Swallow, and the European Honeybee, I saw these two Tree Swallows. Their impending activities were a fitting site for someone photographing both birds and bees on this day. I left the happy couple to themselves and finished my walk in time to head for home and catch the end of the Nuggets playoff chase. One less distraction now from the wonderful world of nature and summertime pursuits.

To close, here is a Goldfinch that was in the grass just off the trail. It sat while I took shots as a woman approached walking her dog. I anticipated that it would take off, giving me a chance for a flight shot, but it never did as she approached, only later as we talked did it head for a more distant treetop perch.

2009 Count: 151

Lifetime: 164