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.

Slow Days - Longer Afternoons

I don't think Thursday is ever going to get here! Between waiting for all my deliveries to arrive, the NCAA Basketball Tournament to begin, and my pager rotation to be over I think the slowing of time is actually making an audible screech that can be heard across the universe. Well, maybe not, but I do feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. Fortunately when time slows down it allows more time for getting outside, and with the extension of evening daylight that let me get a nice five mile walk in along the South Platte River. I was back in the area looking for the Long-tailed Duck, but didn't have any luck in that pursuit.

The fantastic part about that area is that there is a great deal of water around. I scanned four reservoirs and a good stretch of the river, and there are at least three additional larger reservoirs in the area. While that is great for seeing a bunch of wildlife, it makes the prospects of finding any single individual a bit longer than I would normally like.

But, the day was beautiful, and I saw 30 fairly common species - including my first Western Grebes of the year. The Killdeer up top was in an abusive mood - screaming and yelling at me as I walked past. Can't really blame it though, the lake that it has had fenced off for its own use for four months just reopened yesterday for fishing. There were lots of Northern Shovelers, American Coot, and Green-Winged Teal groups along the actual river. The Green-winged Teal, (male immediately above and Female two up), were showing off their namesake wing patches.

A Pied-billed Grebe shared a stretch of the river with these Coot, all riding the current to better fishing grounds I guess. As with most beautiful weather these days are all falling at the beginning of the week. Friday, a day I have off, it is forecast to snow!

Sunrise Kestrel and Grebe

Just a couple of extra shots from yesterday morning.

The Kestrel had his feast early on Thanksgiving.

This Pied-billed Grebe had some fish, amid a textured scape of fall colors.

Off to do some tailgate birding as my alma matter completes it less than exceptional football season, should be a beautiful day for it.

My Visit to Walden Ponds - Grebes and Ducks

I had an early morning start at work yesterday, which meant a long free afternoon! I spent it at the Walden & Sawhill Ponds complex in north Boulder. There were lots of birds out and about, I tallied 32 species, one of which - American Bittern - was a lifer, but remained unphotographed. (I saw two individuals fly overhead at dusk and was unable to relocate them in the lake where they landed amongst the log grasses). The waterfowl as always were prolific. I had Wigeons, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, and the Pied-Billed Grebes and Mallards pictured in this post.

The little grebe below is still showing the facial markings and orange bill of a hatchling. I stumbled upon it rooting in the muddy waters of a small pond. I was surprised that it was able to dive and resurface in more open water on the other side of some vegetation in what appeared to be only inches of water.

Enjoy, the signs of fall are beginning to show.

2009 Count: 181

Lifetime: 189

Another great morning at Plaster Reservoir

As seems to be the case, once a new bird becomes identifiable they turn up all over the place. I guess that is fitting for a "Common" Yellowthroat. The one I saw this morning was much more visible perched up in a Russian Olive grove.


On the topic of first sightings, I was somewhat surprised to see that I had not yet gotten an Eared Grebe. Well I did this morning. The salad being pulled up from the bottom seemed a bit much for breakfast, but the grebes, pelicans and cormorants were all wearing green at times.



Keeping on the Grebe trend, this Pied-Billed Grebe was out in more open water further along in my walk.

Plaster is a great spot for waterfowl. I had another add for Broomfield, the Blue-Winged Teal below was showing off his distinctive white face in the sunlight.

Nature wasn't all feather this morning though, I caught sight of this guy on the brim of my hat out of the corner of my eye. In the fly tying world it seems like an emerger for a size 10 hook, I think it looks like a flying shrimp with those tails.

Glad I got up close to early this morning, I didn't have time for another shot at Gregory Canyon and the Scarlet Tanager, but an Eared Grebe is a nice consolation.

2009 Count: 160

Lifetime: 172

Broomfield Evening

Who can't enjoy an hour at the local park when the sun is making new growth glow?

As I walked two areas of the park I added a handful of new species for the county, and saw the Bushtit above that was a new add for the lifelist.

I stopped for a bit to watch for sparrows in the grass, and instead caught this Phoebe and its prey.

The setting sun didn't provide much light, but this Pied-Billed Grebe was even more accommodating that the one I saw Friday evening.

Finally I saw this Redhead Duck couple taking a leisurely dip at sunset. What a night capped off by a playoff Nuggets game that kept me up 'till midnight. Well worth it, but not conducive to getting a sunrise look at Plaster Reservoir - tomorrow.

2009 Count: 124

Lifetime: 140

Broomfield Birding - Nissen Res and Alexx & Michael's Pond

Everywhere I turn there are Yellow-Rumped's, this guy was one of three who followed a Chickadee through some trees at eye level and let me get a much closer shot.



Before I saw him I had headed to Nissen Reservoir in Broomfield to see if an earlier reported Black and White Warbler was still in the trees. It wasn't, but I did add Snowy Egret to my list.


I also had my best look at a Black-Crowned Night Heron, and first sighting of the year. All told there were 5 Great Blues, two Snowys, and the Black Crowned. Not too shabby, for our humble city and county!

After checking Nissen I headed on to Alexx and Michael's Pond which I had driven by, but never walked around. Boy am I kicking myself now. I was walking down the trail before I even reached the pond itself when a Little Blue Heron flew overhead. It was a good thing I had just been watching the Great Blues fly or I may not have picked up on the smaller overall size and dark neck and head. I also got a shot of the first Pied-Billed Grebe I had seen in Broomfield.

Along the way I spotted my first Yellow-Headed Blackbird - it was my first of season since I started a list in October. I also had a chase session with an Orange-Crowned Warbler moving slowly along the brush on the bank, and just as I was returning to my car had a Coot with the best resolution I have gotten yet.

A good way to get home from work on Friday.

BTW, just as I start to think that I am getting somewhat respectable numbers on my list I see that there are group of people in Colorado who have 400 species (in-state I believe) and all 54 14ers under their belt. The list has come up with 6 people. Flat out impressive.

2009 Count: 123

Lifetime: 139