Wet Day at Latham

On the way to school yesterday, too wet for a walk. So drive by birding. Thought I'd see who was around at Lower Latham.

The general avian mood of the day.

Sparrows aren't generally who I think of as Latham

residents, but they were plentiful yesterday!

The Clint Eastwood Sparrow.

and one for my artsy silhouetteish group.

some very hunkered-down Phalaropes

and on my second drive by, a prize: the FOS Black-necked Stilt.

Also at Latham today: a pair of Avocet (Beebee Draw) FOS Western Kingbird, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall (I think) Yellow-headed Blackbirds, FOS Ibis, and probably lots of quietly hiding from

the rain things. Oh, and one muskrat.

Spring on it's Way (Despite the Snow)

Even though I spent most of yesterday at school, I managed to find nice outside moments both before and after. In the morning, I walked around Riverbend Ponds and after school I went over to Lower Latham in search of Short-earred Owls.

Lots of ducks at Riverbend, these being the resident Ring-necked Ducks. Also present:

American Widgeon, Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal and one more (see below.)

First surprise of the morning went like this: "Well that looks like one of those Pigeon-

deterrent plastic Great-horned Owls....but there wouldn't be one of those here...." Okay, I've 

been a little sleepy lately.

A Mallard for the silhouette group.

Next lovely surprise of the morning: Wood Ducks in trees. Just a couple of

weeks ago we saw a pair from a distance on Connie's Loveland walk and I 

couldn't wait to someday get to see them a little closer....Hmmmmm

Not-so-shy Widgeon.

Beautiful little Blue-winged Teal.

After a couple of hours wait, sadly no Short-earred Owls at Latham. (Alas this night time 

owling is not really for me...) However, the third lovely surprise of the day:

Sandhill Cranes, maybe on their way to Nebraska? and I didn't even have to drive

to Monte Vista. :)

Early June

Highlights this Week:

Pawnee Grasslands on Tuesday, where I was completely not expecting this Red-headed Woodpecker!

I followed him around Crow Valley Campground for awhile, 

almost dizzy with pleasure at getting to see this bird.

Heading toward the Pawnee Buttes:

Sleeping Fox and

Not-so-sleeping Fox. Just before the fox

I saw the "burrowing owl fence post shot"

of my dreams, and was 5 seconds too slow.   Grrr.

Something to look forward to :)

At Pawnee Buttes the usual suspects:

Rock Wren

 

Western Kingbird (everywhere)

This Brown Thrasher was in the exact spot Brad and I 

watched one last year!

A few owls on the way home (of course not posing beautifully 

on a fence post 10 feet from the car!!!) Grrr. 

Wednesday I went to Lower Latham, visited with the Avocets and enjoyed listening to the Marsh Wren commotion. Unlike at Crow Valley, there's a little less water here now:

Blue-winged Teals

American Avocet

Black-necked Stilt

Common Yellow-throat, new for me at Lower Latham

Wednesday afternoon I stopped at the Environmental Learning

Center in Fort Collins:

Today a visit to Bobcat Ridge, where I saw no snakes, one coyote who hightailed it, and one mouse/lizard who did the same:

Towhees everywhere...this one more cooperative than most.

A Busy Wren

So I thought I saw the back of a Lazuli Bunting (something I've only 

caught fleeting glimpses of.) Then it flew and I thought 

I heard it. (ipod confirmed I did.) But I couldn't find it.

So I sat down (for an hour or so) listening to the Bunting and not finding

it. Out of nowhere comes this Yellow-breasted Chat! (something else I've only caught 

the barest of glimpses of.)

I entertained myself watching the chat; the bunting stopped

singing. I gave up and walked away. Then the bunting started singing again.

 

Where is he? (Keep in mind this photo only shows a portion of

one of the two trees I was staring at for an hour.)

Ohhh.

More photos:

My First American Bittern

Well actually my second....

Here's my first; I stopped in shock - from the distance I was sure it was a bittern. Even bothered to pull out the scope!

Figured I'd come back and check on him after 

another loop along the road.... but then I forgot all about that bittern:

and found this one. Too close to the car!

A little further away with some grass and fence in the way...

Looking intently at something...

American Bittern with fish.

Looking at me funny.

Looking at me seriously.

Taking off; some goofball (yeah I mean me) 

thought they'd try to open the car door.

And here, behind fence, a little bittern walking:

A few more photos from today's visit to Lower Latham:

Weld Highlights

I'm finding Lower Latham to be the treasure-trove everyone's told me it would be. I wish it were closer to home; I feel like every moment spent there is worthwhile! Some highlights from the last couple of weeks (along with a few from Fort Collins...)

Oodles of Yellow-Headed Blackbirds

Some looks at a new favorite, Wilson's Phalarope:

Avocet (this one in Fort Collins)

White-Faced Ibis

Marsh Wren Acrobatics...

Mountain Plover

Western Kingbird

and my first House Wren this Spring