Sunrise from the Coalton Trail

My post from late last Tuesday about my visit to the Coalton Trail west of Superior, Colorado had me thinking of the area. So, when I was woken up by a page well before sunrise on Wednesday morning I decided to roll with it and go see if I could have any more luck finding birds in the A.M. than I had in the P.M. Just as I hit the trail I was greeted by beautiful colors and silhouettes. The morning was cool, and I moved quickly down the slope of the highland towards the sunrise. I wanted to get as far along as I could before the the sun broke the horizon, I would then have it at my back as I returned, offering great lighting for all the birds I was sure to see.


I reached roughly the halfway point, where the trail turns hard to the east, and slopes more dramatically downhill into one of the draws before reaching the western edge of residential Superior. I had met the halfway point of my available time as well, and just like the fence-line I had a destination back in the civilized world. Fortunately for me, my route took me back towards the mountains, and I was given a spectacular view of the entrance to Eldorado Canyon, the same canyon that had looked so different in the evening on my previous visit.


This whole area is one that I really enjoy, and I will definitely be back to visit through the seasons. I have a feeling as the weather deteriorates in the coming weeks I will have even more opportunity to enjoy the high plains in their full isolation.


This last Black-eyed Susan bloom was standing sentinel over the passing fall weather. It was well colored in the early light - the birds on the other hand were largely non-existent. There were the usual Western Meadowlarks, who were making up for the lack of diversity by belting out a chorus to welcome the day - but even they kept their distance and didn't appear in pictures as much more than noisy blobs. So instead...more sky.

Coalton Trail - outside Superior, Colorado

Last Thursday evening I had errands to run, but knowing that the sun is sinking earlier and earlier these days, I headed to the high plains of Boulder County in hopes of crossing paths with a late lingering Burrowing Owl or a rare Pipit before I got down to business. I saw lots of Western Meadowlarks, and a bunch of bikers, but otherwise I just had a peaceful, beautiful evening with a view like this mostly to myself.

As the sun dropped I was serenaded by a chorus of Coyotes. A passing biker said he had seen six beyond the next ridge. However, I was on foot, and by the time I Had gotten there the Coyotes had moved on. That's OK, sometimes the things unseen are the most memorable. Then again, sometimes a view and a soft orange sky stick pretty well too.

Stearn's Lake Saturday Morning

I was out before the sun on Saturday morning, and took the opportunity to visit Stearn's Lake at the southern edge of Boulder county. Readers of this blog will know that this was a spot I visited frequently when my office was located in Louisville and it was a brief turn from my daily drive. On my visit Saturday I stood in the company of a pair of Bald Eagles waiting for the sun to clear a ridge. Turning to the east, a distant post caught my eye...


My interest was peaked, and I did some backtracking to try an approach from another direction. My effort was rewarded, my route took me out of view of the post, and when I had reached a new vantage point it was bare.


To my delight, the bird had relocated to the small tree that had been blocking my view, and had multiplied! I took a few shots, and then dragged myself away to let them settle in for the day.


I looped out to the south, and returned along the edge of a pumpkin field, (they're getting close), as I walked I had some Vesper Sparrows to keep me company, showing off their seasonal colors in the post-dawn light. As I walked I was teased with unphotographed views of at least one Cooper's Hawk. I never got a satisfactory shot of it (them), but did get a nice distant shot of a Northern Harrier skimming the cattails on the far side of the lake. They are so distinctive when seen hunting mere feet above a marsh or field, the white rump, and facial disk were both visible in this shot.


I checked on the owls as I returned to the parking are from a distance and they were still visible. I'll take the opportunity to post one more of their previous shots, they were a real highlight to an enjoyable weekend start.


I hope that yours was just as beautiful, wherever you found yourself yesterday.

Heck of a day!

Sunday's ski plans fell through, so based on my success the day before I decided to head up to the Walden/Sawhill Ponds/Cottonwood Marsh complex in Boulder for the early morning hours. After Saturday's bright skies and bitter winds the calm overcast and quiet of Sunday was most welcome.


When I arrived I had the place to myself. The sun was just rising, but light would remain an issue for the morning due to the low clouds. Light and iffy photography aside I was in for a treat. By the time I left the park I had tallied 47 species, more than likely a new best for a solo bird walk of just a few hours in one location. Tops among everything I saw was this Long-billed Dowitcher, which I saw very early, just as I was crossing the boardwalk going into the complex. The bill shape narrowed down the possibilities, but I had my doubts after scrutinizing the first picture and checking the guidebooks. Shape and structure were great for the Dowitcher, but a Dowitcher in May should have a rusty orange breast in its breeding plumage. I felt better once I made it to this shot.


A longer exposure blurs the detail, but begins to show the coloration on the shaded side of the bird. Yet another example of how photographs can be misleading for identification. Fortunately, a bird with a long bill with a downward pointing tip doesn't have many options here.


A bit later I came across another shorebird to identify, this one I was more confident to guess in the field, and confirmed later as Solitary Sandpiper. The bird's shape, and the fine light specks on its dark back are good fieldmarks to set this sandpiper apart.



I was back home sorting through pics and wrapping up a few to-do items for my trip this week when I decided to check COBirds before running a couple of errands. Much to my delight I saw a message that was less than an hour old indicating a Black-necked Stilt was near Stearn's Lake, and a minute's detour from my route.


So two life birds in one day. One was produced by concentrated birding, looking for migrants at as known hotspot, and then using technology to record and reconfirm my sighting. The other, a word of mouth sighting that was incredibly easy to refind. BI was back home sorting through pics and wrapping up a few to-do items for my trip this week when I decided to check COBirds before running a couple of errands. Much to my delight I saw a message that was less than an hour.

Both were memorable, and filled out a very birdy beginning of May. I have a handful of potentially postable pictures, but may or may not get them listed in the next few nights. Although if the snow showers continue I may be looking for indoor activities to pass the time.

2011 Count: 128
Lifetime: 257

Misguided Sparrow, Miscolored Robin

At the beginning of the week unsettled weather was turning up unexpected migrants in all sorts of locations. Tuesday I decided to try for a rarity in Boulder that had been seen for a couple of days in a row. The Black-throated Sparrow was worth the rushed drive to see and photograph. In a family that features brown, stripes and eye-rings as major identification points the Black-throated Sparrow is a welcome standout.


This bird was ground foraging, alternating his time between groups of Vespers, Chipping, and White-crowned Sparrows. In an area with heavy foot traffic there were many occasions when the bird mix was reset, but this bird was a reliable return to the same area every few minutes.

I headed off after seeing the sparrow to see if I could also refind a reported Gray Flycatcher. I didn't find it, but did see this partially leucistic American Robin.


This bird seemed to show the pigments for orange, but all the dark colors had been replaced by white.


One last shot of the Sparrow, great looking bird! These little guys are normally found in southern Arizona, New Mexico and California, and extend northward in Utah and Nevada. They are not normally found this far north east of the Rockies. I wonder if this bird's navigation system will tell it that it needs to head west or south, not north with the other groups of migrants? I hope it finds a summer home that will support it.



2011 Count: 113
Lifetime: 254

Colorado Weather - Ready for Anything

Saturday morning I headed out early. A DFO trip in the Longmont area was the plan for most of the day, but I stopped off in Boulder to see if I could add a reported Yellow-throated Warbler to my list. I didn't find it, but a Downy Woodpecker tried its best to make up for the missing birds.


45 minutes later, and a dramatic change. The weather actually complimented the birds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds shone in the snowy cattails.


Without strong winds our group was finding birds at every turn. Ruddy Ducks remained distant, but are always a hit.


This season seems to be the one for White-faced Ibis. Our group saw many during the day, and with the groups I had already seen this season I can't believe I haven't noticed them more in the past. I'll welcome all the looks I can get.


At one point I had to backtrack for my scope, and found this Pied-bill Grebe just offshore.


The snow only lasted for our first stop at Jim Hamm Nature Area, but we enjoyed it while it lasted.

A full day with lots of lists completed brought my year list up to 109, and there are a few more pictures to share in future posts.

Wind, but no White-tailed Ptarimgan

Mild temps had me thinking I should head to the high country this weekend. I was in hopes of finding some White-tailed Ptarmigan in their winter wear, and headed back to Lefthand Reservoir to see if I could track some down. I had done a snowshoe trip with the DFO last year where we missed, but knew the habitat was right. The wind was noticeable as I drove up beyond Nederland, and even as I started at the bottom of the trail I knew it was going to be an unlikely day to see any up at the lake. Even so, a mild day showshoeing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors in winter. Just like last year the species count was uninspiring. I had four, two of which - American Crow and Common Raven were seen in the parking area. Mountain Chickadees were around at most stages of the hike, noisy in the trees, but largely invisible. Fortunately a lone Clark's Nutcracker was looking to show off, so I had one subject to photograph. As I had guessed the lake was windy, really windy. I crossed below the dam, which had a moderating influence. I didn't realize the relative shelter until I had reached the south side, and popped up to a level where I was catching the wind coming directly off the continental divide, dropping a few thousand feet and then rushing across a mile of lake ice before hitting me. It is an impressive experience. If I had thought to bring some goggles along I may have tried more of the habitat area to see if I could rack them down, but as it was I had only sunglasses and headed back to the shelter of the trees. I didn't stop while I was in the wind to get pictures of the windblown snow drifts, but they were amazing. As I was looking at their interesting shapes and forms I noticed that some of what I thought was shadowy contrast was really thin layers of rock dust. An in my face reminder that wind is a powerful erosive force, and that on certain days even the massive rocky mountains are broken by its power.
A good afternoon exploring the mountains. I haven't seen any notices yet, but hope that there will be another group trip on 'shoes' this spring.

Piling on

At what point does seeing good birds become an embarrassment of riches? After my great Downy Woodpecker start to the morning I headed out in the mild overcast for my lunch, and spotted this juvenile Cooper's Hawk at the end of my walk. That is two for two on Friday afternoons - not a bad streak!


Once again the bird was at the end of my walk, just as I was approaching the parking lot - this time at the Bobolink Trailhead on the South Boulder Creek Trail. I am also seeing a pattern develop. The walk this afternoon was entirely devoid of any small birds. I may have heard a lone Junco, but if I did it wasn't sticking its head out much. I think those quiet bird days in the future are going to find me scanning a lot more carefully for Cooper's Hawks.

It wasn't just the Cooper's Hawk though.


Earlier I had spotted a Red-tailed Hawk across the large field to the east of the trail. Closer examination of the photo revealed what I believe is a Harlan's variety of Red-tail. It's always fun to find those.

So, I am still no further along at getting through a backlog of photos, but in my book that is a good problem to have. Mountains tomorrow, and who knows what before football on Sunday.


Have a good weekend everyone!

Downy Daybreak

When the alarm went off at a quarter of six this morning the weather report said 18 positive degrees were the temp, and that the roads were slick causing traffic delays. That was all it took, I was up in a with a bound and close to the office before seven. I decided to spend the hour before work walking some of the wooded areas along the creek at Coal Creek Golf Course.


I had a good walk of over a mile, with a Red-tail flying between perches ahead of me, and a handful of species that became vocal as the day began. As is sometimes the case though, my most memorable part of the morning came just as I was returning to the parking lot. This Downy Woodpecker was very busy in some of the plantings around the clubhouse. In a well timed meeting of light and subject I had the chance to shoot lots of frames of this bird from very close range.

The proximity allowed some different views of the bird....


I'm not sure what struck me most on this view; the eyelids dropping over the eyes after each blow, the scraps of debris in mid flight, the claws just wrapped around the branch for leverage, or the feathers around the bill that seem to be shaped like a snowplow blade?


I am sure that getting this shot with the Downy's tongue in view was a fun capture.


Just another day where a common bird makes for an uncommon start to the day. I was glad to have been there to appreciate the sight, even more so since the clear skies of the early morning have been replaced by clouds and passing snow showers.


Red-tail Hawk, off to the next perch.

Can't believe its been a week

Well, almost a week anyway. Since the last time I wrote, when the temps had been pushing seventy, Colorado and most of the rest of the nation has taken a turn in the deep freeze. I have some fun experiences and pictures to share from last weekend and the week in a few upcoming posts. In the meantime here are some shots from yesterday, when the temps had returned to near zero. With no wind to take notice of and clear blue skies it was certainly bearable, and almost pleasant to be out in.


I had returned to the offices of the Boulder County Open Space and Mountain Parks, to see if I could relocate the Rough-legged Hawk I had seen last week. The fence lined drive where it had been seen previously had a new sight, the American Kestrel, (above), who was doing a bit of snacking in the cold.


I left, and drove south along Cherryvale Road. Another birder, Bill Schmoker, had gotten some incredible shots over the weekend, and had mentioned that the bird had been hunting along the ditch. I had seen his shots from my phone while at a basketball game at the University of Colorado the night before, and was inspired to try my luck again.


I was glad to get another chance at this cool bird, and hope it remains a bit longer so I can have another chance. These couple of shots were a few of a handful that I salvaged out of several hundred disappointments. As I was looking through yesterday's shots I realised that the dial on my eyepiece adapter had been bumped off a notch, and in the cold air I hadn't noticed that I was shooting everything blurry. Frustrating, but one of the reasons to take lots of shots - and to dial in the focus when manually focusing. These and a couple of others would have normally been the throw-aways, but they left me with a few memories of a bright, cold, beautiful winter day, and the bird that got me out in it!

Surprised

One of the reasons I love getting outdoors is that nature always has a surprise in store. On a day like today, I thought that temperatures approaching seventy degrees were good enough on their own accord. Nature had more goodness in store though! After a super fast oil change I had time for a walk. I stopped off at the Coal Creek corridor east of Louisville and savored the beautiful afternoon on a birdless walk. Just after passing under Hwy 287 I found a likely reason, the juvenile Cooper's Hawk (below) was silhouetted in the fork of a tree, and remained there while I swung around it following the path in a wide arc. As I moved back towards the hawk at a better angle on the opposite side from where I had originally approached I got what I was hoping for, a gap in the heavy branches and better lighting. I took a few shots, (not posted), and was looking to move closer to the creek for a better angle at the bird. I am not sure what made me look up, but I found myself just a few feet from momma Cooper's Hawk, (above). I had to take a few shots, and then turned and withdrew slowly to a less threatening position.


Fortunately it seemed that mom had just eaten, and was also enjoying the warm afternoon, stretching and preening for 20 minutes while I watched and shot. I had withdrawn to a busy trail, and was completely accepted by the adult hawk at a still close range. I couldn't believe it. As I watched from the open the mother was joined in the same tree by the juvenile (pictured above). They vocalized a bit, and eventually a dog walker approached and the juvenile decided to withdraw to the far side of the creek. The adult hawk had no issues remaining though. While passing dogs still earned her full attention, the constant human traffic seemed to have her completely at her ease with me.

Sometimes birds are just entertaining. I could have sworn she was looking for a lost set of car keys.

The Coop's may have just been well fed. They were uncharacteristically accepting of my presence, and I saw only a lone Blue Jay in their area. Even the jay gave them a wide berth and scolded as it made its way through the area. I had to travel well back past my starting point before I saw smaller birds enjoying the nice day. Eurasian Collared Doves, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches and Song Sparrows had all grouped at what must have been a safe distance and appeared to be trying to make the most of their break from the normal winter temps.


I enjoyed my surprise of a Cooper's Hawk sitting over my shoulder. I'm just glad that my first look at that beautiful bird didn't mean that I had been listed on its lunch menu!

Effort...Reward

Know what this bird is? (hint: it is not a Jayhawk)

First, a bit of follow-up on yesterday's post to wrap things up, and then I'll dive head-long into this bird and the related title. Last evening the dreaded Jayhawks did come to town, and as expected they left with a victory. "My" Buffaloes did put up a good fight though, and are at least offering the University of Colorado faithful hope that better times are on the horizon. The Buffs managed to keep the one-loss Kansas squad close, and while a four point loss is still a loss - the fans of both teams left having watched a good competitive game.

As yesterday's post implied, the past couple of weeks haven't had much in the way of bird related activity, or more specifically, 'postworthy' sightings to report. My photographs when I have gotten out haven't been impressive, even to me - and generally I haven't felt the urge to share repeated Red-tail Hawk and Kestrel sightings here again.

So, this morning when I woke before my alarm I decided to put in a bit of effort and get out there before work. It did keep me from running or getting to the gym, but I was willing to make the sacrifice...for the birds! Anyway, I headed back over to the Greenlee Preserve, Waneka Lake complex. It is a frequent lunch walk spot, and one that has been a winter home to a Swamp Sparrow for a while now. I arrived at the spot just as the light was increasing, and started counting various bird species that were feeding at the edge of a swale that borders the park.
A good list of fairly common species grew as I waited and hoped for the Swamp Sparrow to appear. One species, a Gray Catbird, is uncommon in winter, and was one of five adds for 2011. Although I may have heard a call note from the Swamp Sparrow, I never saw it, and am still waiting for a better confirmation to claim it as identified or countable. While I was standing there listening I heard a different and interesting song. Luckily for me, as I was standing there a well known area birder jogged up and said "hello". He heard the song as well, and identified it as an American Tree Sparrow. He also said that it was one of only a handful of times he had heard it in Colorado, which is off the American Tree Sparrow's breeding grounds.

How cool is that? Had I not been in the right place at the right time I wouldn't have heard the call, found out what it was, or known just how unusual it is to hear around these parts. I might add that I am utterly amazed at the skill that some birders possess to ID birds by sound. To hear a song, much less a song that shouldn't be in that area, and to know it on the spot is amazing. For someone who is just working on recognizing the most common birds in the area year-round, the recall of others is just baffling. For my part, I have been listening to the call notes of the Swamp Sparrow off and on for several weeks, before and after trips to this location, and I am still uncertain if what I am hearing in the field is the same as the recordings. Just another reminder of how much there is out there to learn, eh?


Anyhow, after my failed - but rewarding - morning trip to search for the Swamp Sparrow I checked my email and learned that a cooperative Rough-legged Hawk was hanging out near the offices for the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department. This had become my most frustrating missed species. They are fairly common in the area, and despite long drives on the prairie, days spent at the hawkwatch in the spring, and raptor field trips this was a species that I just couldn't pin down. So my lunch plan was set, and conveniently I could also get my 2011 parking pass on the same trip! There is nothing like a conveniently located bird.

The picture above is one I snapped as I was just arriving at the site. Some other birder in a vehicle was already quite close to the bird, and not wanting to flush it I drove by slowly and snapped a couple of quick pics before pulling ahead to the parking lot. I went in to renew my parking pass, and came out to see that bird and birder were both still there. As I contemplated getting back in my truck for another drive by, a Red-tailed hawk flew over, and both birds took off together.


I am not sure if the Red-tail was getting territorial, and trying to run the Rough-legged Hawk off, or if the two were just interacting. Either way, they circled with one another lazily and both caught the same thermal. Neither one vocalized, and their behavior was much the same as when several Red-tails are soaring in a group.


Identification points for these birds are their light heads, large and 'heavy' wrist patches on the under-wing, broad tail-bands, and of course legs which are feathered right down to their toes, lending to their name. The two birds circled conveniently close as they rose higher and higher, allowing me to capture them both in frame for a comparison shot. Even at long-range the patagial bars and wrist commas of the Red-tail are distinct from the square dark patches of the Rough-legged Hawk.


The last shot is a fairly tight crop on a shot where the bird had turned back to catch the light after it had risen to an incredible height. I had pulled my eye away from my eyepiece just before, and had struggled to relocate the bird at that point. When I was looking at the shot later I was amazed that it appears to be looking right back at me. A good reminder of just how excellent their eyesight is!

That brings me to one tip I have discovered over time and wanted to share. If you find yourself watching a soaring bird from the ground as it rises, try to keep your eye on it. Inevitably, at some point it will escape your vision as it gets up very high. For myself this seems to happen when I am following a bird through my lens and then take my eye off it to adjust a camera setting, check on another bird, or even blink!@! It can seem like some bizarre magic trick. A bird was just there, and then poof it is gone. My advice, keep watching! Soaring birds are visible when their under-wing or back catches the light and they are at a broad angle to the viewer. Because they can ride the thermal without beating their wings, they may have entered a part of their circular flight where a small percentage of their mass is visible from the viewing angle. Just remain patient and watch the patch of blue, (or gray, or white depending on the weather), where the bird was last seen. The bird may amaze the patient watcher by reappearing - seemingly out of thin air! One of my favorite kinds of magic, although using NASA to predict a space station flyover on unsuspecting fellow campers is a good trick too!

Lots of writing in this post, hope no one has fallen asleep due to boredom. I put a bit of pleasant effort into birding today, and was handsomely rewarded for doing so. Now I just need the gym to do the same tonight!

2011 Count: 38
Lifetime: 252