Pawnee Friends

A drive out to CR 96 this morning to see who's around. I'd heard reports of Mountain Plover and McCown's Longspur; figured I'd give it a shot:

So maybe I wouldn't have needed to drive so far to find some 

Meadowlarks....they certainly were plentiful out on the prairie though!

Horned Larks too! No Lark Buntings yet though.

A couple of kestrel and other assorted raptors.

And yes! Mountain Plover. I've only seen them once before. They're 

lovely. This was very needle in haystackish....even when 

I was sure I was looking at one, I had to keep re-finding it....

A Pawnee surprise; a pair of rock wrens who really wanted their photos taken. 

While out taking photos of rock wrens, this large Sage Thrasher flew in and landed on my roof!

Seriously! This is an uncropped view. Flew in, pondered whether a blue subaru 

was a really a good landing choice, and flew out. Made my day.

Well I guess my day was made several times, 'cause look who's back in town! 

Earlier in the day I'd been thinking about how I'd never actually seen

burrowing owl along CR 96, even though they're the poster child for the

Birding Trail, and lo and behold...

Also on view today: a pair of McCown's Longspur,  one Pawnee-style blackbird, robins and dove.

Exactly the sort of peaceful quiet drive I needed today. :)

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. :)

Weld Birds

The Winter Birds are slipping away from me I realize; a quick dash out east today in hopes of catching a few. Slim hopes. :)

At Latham, Red-winged Blackbirds:

I drove out to Banner Lakes with some vague idea of looking for Long-earred Owls. I didn't find any, but on the way back to the car I flushed a GHO. At least my vague idea had some semblance of logic!

Flew out right in front of me; didn't even know he'd been there!

Another silhouette for the gallery, a Western Meadowlark.

A Great Fall Day at Young Gulch

Almost November and really wonderful weather for a hike up the Poudre Canyon at Young Gulch. On a Saturday, you've got to get there early if you want avoid crowds. I arrived with perfect timing just before 7:00.

The coolness of having multiple cameras on hand:

The Moon at Sunrise from the Little camera...

and from the Big one.

Mostly, a quiet hike. Chickadees, Nuthatches and several Townsend's Solitaires. I focused on the hike and decided to be a slightly less lazier bum than usual and hike the whole trail.

After reaching the trail's end, I happily turned back and headed for home. I was moving and not paying tons of attention when I spotted a light-colored bird across the stream sitting on a branch in the sun:

Oh my gosh, so not-just-any light-colored bird!

My very first [un-assisted] Small Mountain Owl sighting!! A Northern Pygmy-Owl!! Oh MY Gosh. This would be the point at which a great hike became a fantastic hike!

More on the way home:

Clark's Nutcracker making a general commotion

Mountain Chickadee

Exciting Trail Growth.

More photos from today's hike:

Young Things

and other stuff from the last week or so...
I'm learning that around this time when things are pretty quiet, it's nice to stumble upon young things.


Running Deer:

Yup, it's my buddy....inquisitive young mink.

Also at Running Deer right now: frogs, toads and tons

of dragon flies.

The wrens seem to be making a funny frog-like noise lately....

I don't know if this relates to fledgelings or not (or if

I just never noticed it before.)

I've been watching this Red-winged Blackbird nest for

a few weeks. Looks like someone's hungry.

(double-click photo to enlarge a little)

Young Gulch:

Earlier this summer there were bunches of flycatchers 

at Young Gulch. Now, very fluffy fledglings. 

Here's mom with a snack:

And here's the kids.

This one, a little further down the trail.

Pawnee Grasslands:

A friendly Grasshopper Sparrow

A young Meadowlark,  I think....

I did see a few young burrowing owls, but none

braving posts yet.

Two shots of Mom Lark Sparrow, 'cause I think

she's wonderful...

Maybe one day this little guy will look so pretty!

Didn't find any resting Common Nighthawks 

(well other than the ones I accidentally flushed...), but this one 

briefly flew into the tree above my head.

Riverbend Ponds:

First, a stop near Wellington.

What I think is coolest about the dickcissel, it's song:

A little reminder for me today: When it's a little slow and 

maybe kind of dull the Kingfisher embodies 

everything I've grown to love about birds.

Another enthusiastic wren.

A Young Barn Swallow, I think!!

Three guesses (it's not a kingfisher...)

MORE Photos.....