Three Bird Day

Around Town today, but blissfully outside and feeling so much better for it!

An almost-patient Great Blue Heron

I went to look for the Long-tailed Duck at North Shields Ponds today. A fabulous-looking duck. Someday I hope to see an adult male in Summer plumage :) There was more than a little adventure involved in today's search, but I did get to see the bird: (That's him on the left...)

Flying off with some Goldeneyes half a second after I arrive

Not looking too excited about my visit

Safely far away.

My first Winter Wren, at the Environmental Learning Center:

Skullllkeee!!!

And an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Grandview Cemetery:

Really beautiful...another bird I'd like to see in adult plumage.

Also around town today:

American Robin

Black-billed Magpie

Black-capped Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Canada Goose

Dark-eyed Junco

Eurasian-collared Dove

European Starling

Hairy Woodecker

Mallard

Northern Flicker

Red-winged Blackbird

On the Way Home

I stopped at Running Deer this evening. It was so quiet, again... I think I'm beginning to realize the quiet makes hearing certain things easier (the really quiet sounds.) Tonight I enjoyed this kind of listening practice.

My first surprise of the evening (I didn't have high expectations) 

was the little chirp of a pair of fledglings.

I got pretty excited as I realized that they were almost surely

Marsh Wren fledglings. Look at that ridiculous hairdo!

I know the photos don't do them justice, but they were a little shy.

Another great sound: the hilarious squeak the frogs make as they

jump in the water at my approach.

Frog Head at Sunset. :)

Very few birds tonight at Running Deer. I was chased away from 

a pair of Wilson's Warblers by mosquitoes. 

This Black-crowned Night Heron seemed more concerned

with the prospect of fishing than my presence.

Surprise #2: Look at him, isn't he gorgeous? I have no idea on id, but 

I sat and watched him nibble on his leaf for quite some time.

ID Update: Dave Leatherman, entomologist extraordinaire has confirmed

he is a White-lined Sphinx, what most people call a

Hummingbird Moth. Cooler than cool news really, since 

that is one of our very favorite garden visitors at home!

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.....

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:

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