Another Sunday at Running Deer

Nice quiet Sunday walk.

Hi Guys.

At the improvised pond: blue-winged teal.

About as good as it's going to get for swallows in flight!

Today's prize: Great views of a Green Heron.

and some deer. and many bunnies. 

A Little Bit of Spring...

Off for an adventure to Running Deer. All the recent moisture has meant new ponds [where there used to be] and I thought we better go take a look:

Looking for frogs…and snakes. We talked a lot about snakes today, in

preparation for a visit to Dixon or Crow Valley. (Always good to be prepared :)

Maisie will tell you that we saw "a lot of rabbits today."

I knew it was going to be a very good walk when we saw a 

Common Yellowthroat at our start. We always hear one in this 

spot, but much less often see them!

We walked as far in as we could, and then went a different way back….Uh Oh!

Flooded. Time for a U-turn :)

No, Killdeer, we are not going to bother your nest!

Sanpipers, redheads, Song Sparrows and more. More than I've seen 

in years at Running Deer, surely from all the new water/storms.

Snack time!

New for me at Running Deer (and all of Fort Collins) a loon!!!

So very nice to see my favorites passing through :) Wilson's Warbler.

Yellow Warbler. and bunches of Yellow-rumped too.

Spring Walk

We went for a little walk today down by the ELC, on the Poudre River Trail. I realized halfway through that we could stop by the feedlot, and that this would be good fun for Maisie. Nothing too exciting, and the lens or I (or both) can no longer focus, but it felt really nice to get out :)

GBH on the way in.

Very entertaining Osprey making rounds gathering 

sticks for his platform nest.

Mergansers, far away, safe and sound.

Song Sparrow sang to us all along our stroll.

Shoveler on the way out.

and a somewhat mangy fox too.

a very entertained Maisie. I wonder how long I can 

play that card while I examine the trees later this summer… 

(over, and over? Maisie, let's go see the cows!")

If Only it were Fall.....

The temps were below 90 this morning, so OUT we went. Warning: Not too many bird photos below; Running Deer just isn't the same since they drained the pond. Quiet and peaceful and I'll take it. Birding with a toddler is funny anyhow. (Playground birding anyone? "I see a Crow.") And the birds seem sort of unimpressed as we come tumbling along singing "Ring Around a Rosie."

Anyhow. Bullfrog: Maisie didn't notice, since he was sitting very still.

Western Kingbirds doing their thing.

Osprey Flyover.

Maisie found a snake. Mom had a heart attack. Apparently someone inherited my mad snake finding skills. Oh Well.

FOS Walk:

Warm enough to venture out with Dad and Maisie today, a nice re-introduction to North Shields Ponds:

Didn't see anything inside...can't tell if they were caching 

food or what!

Greater Yellowlegs...also LOVELY to see some

American Avocets off in the distance. :)