Sunday Afternoon at Running Deer

It felt like Spring today! The usual suspects, plus a few firsts at Running Deer:

Brief Glimpse of a Western Tanager

Bunches of Yellow-rumped Warblers and 

almost as many Yellow Warblers

My first Lark Sparrow, cooperative and flashy!

First the Dad(s)....

and then Mom Wood Duck! really the most wonderful thing 

ever...at least for now....

ending with Black-crowned Night Herons 

flying overhead and landing in trees.

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

Joy Out East

Unexpected Fabulousness: the bird I've been most hoping to see for the first time this Spring, the Black-Necked Stilt:

These little guys were hanging out with the stilts:

Other highlights today:

Brad's Pheasant photo

Excitable Yellow Headed Blackbirds..

(probably just excited to have a break from the rain!)

My first Yellow-Rumped Warbler of the year...

And at Lower Latham, a Marsh Wren's nest.

Need a little help?

:)

Finished the day with some White-Faced Ibises at Drake Lake.

The rest of today's photos:

Really Feeling like Spring

A WBU Walk with Connie today started off wonderfully with an Osprey flying over the parking lot.

Quiet Great Horned Owl observes the group...

An incredible amount of Turkey Vultures...flying overhead...

hanging out in trees (next to an immature Bald Eagle!)

Song Sparrow puts on a show...

Downey Woodpeckers acting Funny...

 and Goose on nest.

 

This afternoon, a quick stop at Running Deer 

provided a FOS Snowy Egret!

Spring Weekend

Friday afternoon, a visit to Running Deer, and a chance to practice a little of this "exposure adjustment" Robert Palmer talked about Thursday night. Clearly much practice will be required but surprisingly, a few successes!

A low-flying harrier gives me much opportunity for practice...

and then a semi-cooperative pair of wood ducks

(okay, not so in focus...but check out that hairdo!)

Saturday, out to Lower Latham for a few first of seasons:

Blue Winged Teal

Uggh. Time to put the cage on the feeder...

Marsh wren

I didn't catch the crossbills at Grandview on Sunday, but I did find some deer, a fox, and a sharp shinned hawk:

The rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday's photos: