Chipping Sparrow

Just a couple of Chipping Sparrow pictures from Friday morning as a comparison to the previous sparrow pictures. Fall Chipping Sparrows are identified by their unstreaked gray breasts, and dark eye-line that extends through the eye-ring and all the way to the bill. I found these along the Singletree Trail in Boulder County on a beautiful, crisp fall morning.


No birding this past weekend though, a pancake breakfast and trips to the CU and Denver Broncos games ate up most of my time. Next weekend is going to have some dedicated field time though, with a possibility of heading up to the high country for some changing aspens.

Below the Dam at Lake Estes

After arriving in Estes Park on Wednesday evening I was greeted by my Brother-in-law with the news that he had seen an Ibis below the dam, while leading his students to a tour at a water treatment facility. Having not yet tracked down an Ibis, I decided to start my day there the following morning. Jack Frost had been busy with some late season work on the thickets along the Thompson River that night. When I arrived everything that wasn't buried in deep snow was covered in frosty crystals. I was casting about, and had headed upstream towards the dam without finding much other than the Chipping Sparrows (above) and a few other Red-winged Blackbirds. I was beginning to think that I would have to fight the glare and head downstream when my target exploded from a clump of brush off to my right:

I was treated to this White-faced Ibis taking off and making a circuit above me, before heading out of sight above the dam. Filled with the excitement of having seen a life bird on my first excursion I started wandering back down stream, and took a few minutes to watch this Brewer's Blackbird in what had to be a cold bath.

It didn't dawdle, and was off for a drier perch quickly.

After an hour or so I was back in the 4runner, and headed for breakfast with my family who had been warm and toasty in their beds. As I left the area I was able to enjoy one last opportunity in the bright light before the clouds settled back in, a Tree Swallow sunning itself on a fence, it was unusually tolerant and let me pull along side and take all the pictures I wanted.

Updated Counts: (Found a couple more F.O.Y species while looking closely at pics)

2010 Count: 143

Lifetime: 218

The Watched are always Watching

The snow and rain hadn't arrived this morning, but the leaden skies, gusty breeze, and cooler temps had. Not knowing what opportunities will present themselves in the near future, I made a quick stop on the way to work.
Anytime a stop involves an interaction with a Coyote I consider it a success. I fully appreciate that they can be a nuisance, and that they have earned some of the scorn they receive by targeting domestic animals as they carve a niche for themselves in a human dominated environment. Even so, a large predator that has adapted so well deserves some degree of respect.

I wonder if that Coyote is the same one that was enduring a biting cold day back in December of last year? That day will make whatever comes of our wintry snap in May seem balmy by comparison.

Even in the midst of forecasts of snow, signs of spring continue to arrive. Chipping Sparrows will be abundant through the coming months, but a first sighting of the year warranted a picture and a posting.

Whatever the weather brings in the next 24 hours it should be good for a local fallout. The forecast is being backed off a bit for the metro area, but Estes Park, where I am headed tomorrow afternoon is still being mentioned as a candidate for two feet of snow. There may be more birding by snowshoe yet!

Fast, Fun Getaway

I enjoyed another fun and relaxing weekend camping in the Pike National forest Friday and Saturday nights. Warm enough to enjoy the days, but getting cooler at night - ensuring deep sleep and crisp frosty mornings. The birding was better than I have had on recent camping trips. I didn't add any life birds, but did add one to my Colorado list, and saw a bunch of new species for that area. Vesper Sparrows, like the one above are common around my home, but this one seen just after sunrise really showed off the rufous shoulder patches.

At one point, after a bit of four wheeling, I had my friends drop me off a few miles from camp. That let me cross a boggy creek and cross a ridge on my way back, getting some diverse habitat types into my trip. The willows along the creek, which produced a Moose for fellow campers on a trip in June, were productive for me as well. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet, above, was the first I had seen in Colorado, and the first that I had seen while "out birding" rather than looking through my sister's back window.

Shortly after seeing the Kinglet I was treated to a fairly close Wilson's Warbler. Of course the ten or so shots I had of it perched left its eye squarely behind the branch - oh well. Their color is such fun to see along a willow choked mountain stream.

The Western Wood Pewees were ever vigilant just beyond "our" campsite nestled in an aspen grove.

One of the secret advantages of birding is the motivation it gives for getting up early when camping. For most of my adult life camping has included campfires that are kept burning until deep into the morning, and far more s'mores and belly warming beverages than were absolutely necessary. I'm not against those activities for any reason, and sometimes sitting on a stump staring at the dying embers of a good fire can be just as vital as any daylight exploration. That being said, it is good to have a reason to turn in when the first yawns hit, and even better to have a reason - and plan - for abandoning that warm sleeping bag to brave the frost as the predawn glow begins. The Downy Woodpecker above was a reward for getting up early on Sunday. I watched and enjoyed as he woke and performed his morning preen, getting ready for the busy day ahead.

The early day light and shadow even gave this Chipping Sparrow a distinctive look. I was glad to have the trip, the calendar is getting full for fall, and the next trip may feature heavy coats and multiple mid-layers.

2009 Count: 175

Lifetime: 183

A Fast-Paced Loop at Marshall Mesa

"I'm an Owl!"

"What???? Um....Why is the world spinning?"

Tough to see in these pictures, but there is something just above the bill in the first shot, and just to our right of the bird's left eye in the second. Not sure if that is an insect harassing the bird's ears or something else entirely, but that was quite a head shake.

My trip to Marshall Mesa was really about getting a fast loop in more than doing any intensive birding, but I did want to get back out as it had been a few days, and the weather is deteriorating. Beyond the head-banger it was a visit filled with Towhees and Chipping Sparrows. I had some Cowbirds in the pasture and Catbirds on the return, other than that it was fairly quiet.

The Sparrows and Towhees gave me a few good looks, and I did check the mesa overlook turnoff, which did not end up being the shortcut I had hoped it would but was a great view.

A good break, and more birding from last night and this morning to come.

Saturday - Crescent Meadow and Walker Ranch

Went on an abbreviated hike on Saturday with an old school friend who was back visiting Boulder. We headed to Eldorado Canyon state park, and used the Crescent Meadows trailhead to avoid the CU graduation crowds.

The day was perfect, with clear skies and much warmer temperatures than had been forecast. Due to our late start and the mid-day Nuggets game the hike was more about getting there and back in a timely manner than it was about stopping and finding species, but it was great to get out in the sunshine regardless.

The Chipping Sparrows were everywhere in the burn area, I had this one perching on a burned out stump for several moments.

On the climb up to the Walker Ranch trailhead I had great looks at four Turkey Vultures soaring just over the ridge. Always a good sight to keep the coastal visitors moving on the trail!

The Mountain Bluebirds really stand out in the burn area. They generally perch high on the clear limbs and are a bright bit of color against the mostly drab background.

**Update: Comma**

I also had a couple of cool looking butterflies along the way, neither of which I have yet been able to id. There were three of the coppery ones above resting on rocks along the creek, and several of the type below further along the trail.

**Update: Spring Azure**

This one had a brilliant, blue back. Unfortunately it would not rest with open wings, and would not cooperate when flying.

I guess an insect guide is in my future along with a guide to mammals. Those two groups seem much more difficult to ID on the web.

Have a great week everyone, enjoy all the spring going on out there!

Trip day four: Ft. Niobarra National Wildlife Refuge

I woke early on Saturday to a light dusting of snow. I was on the road before sunrise because I wanted some time at Ft. Niobarra National Wildlife Refuge before heading on to Iowa.


Unfortunately the overcast skies made the early morning hours a bit tough for good photography at long range, but I made the best of it and really enjoyed the refuge. The refuge features a good deal of shrotgrass prairie divided by the Niobarra river valley as it flows through. The valley is wooded and had good warbler activity, while the prairie land had prominent Meadowlarks, Doves and Blackbirds.
The Chipping Sparrow above greeted me as I began the short walk that walked down beside the Niobarra Falls, and followed the river before returning up the bluff. It was so peaceful to walk beside a good sized river in a damp wood, with a thin layer of brilliant green new leaves in the undergrowth. As I walked I heard Turkeys gobbling across the water, and followed Yellow-Rumped Warblers through the canopy.

Back on the bluff I observed and photographed this Northern Shrike on a barbed-wire fence. This is the fierce little hunter that impales its kills on the barbs of barbed-wire and thorny bushes. You wouldn't guess it from that downy looking mug though.

One of the best experiences at Ft. Niobarra NWR was driving through the Bison area of the plains. They have a large herd, and a dozen or so individuals that were in an area accessible from the driving tour.

In my volunteering at the Rocky Mountain NWR I have gotten some good looks at Bison, (or if you are a CU alum - Buffaloes!). On my early drive I actually pulled through the herd as one half had moved across the road and the other was still grazing. It was still way to dark to get any postable shots - sadly one Buff still had a dusting of snow on his head - but I got a shot looking back a bit later to remember the moment. Not that it is one I will soon forget. Magnificent animals, even when they are not named Ralphie or running the field at Folsom Stadium.

BTW - yes it is very tough to drive through Husker Country. Talk about solidarity of a fan base. I am glad that Coloradoans have so much to divert our interest from college football, and so many great schools to divide our loyalty - but it would be cool to see every truck sporting a CU bumper sticker or listen to sports radio on a spring evening and hear a regularly occurring trivia contest tied completely to the buffs. Oh well, we have mountains!

Back on track - the people I met in Nebraska were all very kind, and most hospitable. The places I saw and the memories I made will have me planning a return far before I had expected to.

This Wild Turkey was in a group as I left the Refuge, but I continued to see them in nearly every county I crossed as I drove through to Iowa, and my family visit in Orange City, which will be the next post.