SE Colorado Birding

Birding and discussion: A conservation-oriented birding blog that emphasizes low-impact birding and sustainable birding practices together with the enjoyment of birds. Southeast Colorado offers a diversity of habitats which provide premiere birding opportunities. Save Sabal Palm

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Snow Geese back in lower Arkansas Valley



I'm back in Colorado and found today that the Snow Geese, and possibly Ross'Geese, are returning to the lower Arkansas Valley area where they winter each year. I took these photos at Neegranda Reservoir, one of the complex of irrigation reservoirs known now as the Great Plains Reservoirs (though they are still referred to by the old names).

There were about 800 white geese (mostly Snow Geese, but some Ross' Geese may be in there also) on Neegranda plus another 150 I saw flyover. There were a hundred or so dark headed geese (most likely Canada Geese), about 75 white-headed gulls, 40-50 Clark's and/or Western Grebes, plus hundreds of assorted waterfowl there also.

At the Upper Queens Reservoir across the highway I saw another 350 white geese. By mid-winter there will be tens of thousands of white geese in this area and the reason there is a Snow Goose Festival in Lamar each February (keep in mind we are holding our Colorado Birding Trail launch at this year's Snow Goose Festival, with special events including Pete Dunne).
SeEtta

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Sunday, October 29, 2006

A lot of hawks

From Lamar to the Oklahoma boarder I saw 5 Red-tailed, 2 Ferruginous and 2 unidentified (sitting with sun behind them as I drove by)in this 80 mile stretch, a pretty good hawk/mile ratio.

Though this blog deals with southeast Colorado, I have to report a drive I took just a short distance from Colorado. I drove 19 miles south of Colo to Boise City, Oklahoma. Then I turned east on US64 to Guymon, Oklahoma. In that 60 mile drive I saw 4 light Ferruginous Hawks (3 imm and 1 ad), 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 3 unidentified hawks (too distant)--that's an even better hawk/mile ratio. I believe many of these (and those above) hawks were migrating. This particular stretch of highway has a good deal of what appeared to be native gras/mile frequency. sland.

I also had a male Ring-necked Pheasant fly across the road in front of my car, causing me to slow to avoid hitting it.
SeEtta

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Two Buttes State Wildlife Area

Yesterday aftnoon I birded Two Buttes SWA in the "black hole" area below the dam. I ran into 2 other birders that are friends of mine and we birded together for a while.
They had found a Golden-crowned Kinglet but I was unable to refind it. I did hear two of the Bewick Wrens they found.

Mark found a Swamp Sparrow and spotted a Golden Eagle soaring in the distance. We watched a Downey Woodpecker work a tree. Brandon spotted two Wood Ducks on one of the ponds.

Other birds there were Mountain Bluebirds, Canyon Wrens, a Song Sparrow, a Harrier Hawk, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Flickers and lots of Robins. This is almost always a very productive area.

Oh, and on my way to Two Buttes, I saw a Prairie Falcon.
SeEtta

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Lamar birds

I have had some computer problems so wasn't able to post yesterday's birding. I found 3 Western Bluebirds in Lamar's Fairmont Cemetery yesterday--this is very far east for this bird (though they strayed into Kansas). Though much less unusual, a Hairy Woodpecker worked the many trees in this cemetery which is known for having unusual birds.

Though Fairmont Cemetery is not very large, there were 2 Red-tailed Hawks in the trees there. They were apparently used to avoiding the people who visit graves or who walk there as each of them glided from tree to tree to avoid me as I walked around. I also saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk fly over.

In the Spring Creek riparian area I found a Lincoln's Sparrow. And I saw a latish Osprey fished in this small stream. There were lots of White-crowned Sparrows and Juncos calling in the brushy areas.
SeEtta

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Friday, October 27, 2006

Lower Arkansas River valley

I am off on a short birding trip and I drove down to Lamar. I am posting this from my motel room at the Blue Spruce Motel, which I have recommended before as a clean and reasonably priced motel located right nest to Lamar's best birding hotspot, the Lamar Woods. It is very convenient to have free wireless internet so you can access the internet from the comfort of your room like I am doing right now. And they are pet friendly, with a small charge for our 4 legged friends who travel with us (mine, Banjo and Chase are sleeping).

Back to birding--I stopped at Lake Hasty in John Martin State Park. There were 50-60 American White Pelicans on this small lake. Some of the pelicans were apparently enjoying a pre-bedtime flight as they were taking off, flying around and returning. There were also a few white-headed gulls flying around.

I drove back up to John Martin Res (just up the hill) where I enjoyed a gorgeous sunset. There were at least another 50 or so Am White Pelicans on the reservoir (and likely more too distant to see at dusk). I also saw 3 Great Horned Owls, all within a half mile of the headquarters.
SeEtta

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Thursday, October 26, 2006

Snowless snow storm and bear up a tree


A major snowstorm blasted through Colorado today leaving lots of snow in Denver and Colorado Springs, but only rain in Canon City, Pueblo and points east. Not to say that we don't ever get snow but our climate is quite mild. Plus the forecast for tomorrow is temps back up in the 60's then up to the 70's for the week-end--can't beat that.

This photo shows a bear (it is almost hugging the tree-see its ear left the trunk and its brown nose visible between the leaves)that is up a tree next to MacKenzie Ave on the east side of Canon City (near farm fields). It was a pretty large bear weighing probably a few hundred pounds. Given the heavy traffic on MacKenzie Ave, it is best it stays in the tree until after dark when it can safely move on.

I saw a Common Loon at Brush Hollow Res again today, possibly the same one that I saw two days ago as it was in transition between alternate(winter) and basic (breeding) plumage. There was a Franklin's Gull, also in transition from alternate to basic plumage, among 9 Ring-necked Gulls. Today there were 4 Western Grebes and 3 Ruddy Ducks. I saw around 75 Mtn Bluebirds just outside of Brush Hollow.

SeEtta

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Fossil of "Terror Bird" found in So. America


After the dinasaurs went extinct, a huge meat-eating and ferrocious "Terror Bird" lived in So America and a fossil of this big predator has recently been found. This bird was over 10 foot tall!! This photo is from NPR and is copywrited by Stephanie Abramowicz © 2006

"All Things Considered, October 25, 2006 · Scientists have dhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gif
Add Imageiscovered a skull belonging to a hook-beaked bird that ruled the grasslands of South America. Scientists are calling the bird a "terror bird." Read more about this amazing discovery that was featured on NPR's All Things Considered.

Though these birds may not have been found in SE Colo, they were discovered on grasslands so maybe they had some cousins in this area. And guess what, there have been discoveries of a related "terror bird" in Texas and Florida. Read more about this here.

SeEtta

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Migrating birds take powernaps

Research results recently released indicate that migrating birds may utilize hundreds of power naps during migration. Per an article in LiveScience.com, "To help make up for sleep lost during marathon night flights, migratory birds take hundreds of powernaps during the day, each lasting only a few seconds, a new study suggests.
SeEtta

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Common Loon & late Cattle Egret



Today I found a latish Cattle Egret loafing with a flock of Canada Geese at a private pond. This is it's photo--you can see the blackish legs these egrets have in winter and the hunched over posture.

I also found a Common Loon at Brush Hollow Reservoir. It was molting from alternate (breeding) to basic (winter) plumage, with mostly winter plumage showing. It was preening and bathing and scrathing. Loons have their legs positioned fairly posteriorly so when they bring their legs up through their wings to scratch it looks strange, almost like they have leg-shaped back scratchers they are using.

The bottom photo is of the Great Horned Owl I saw near Lake Cheraw in Otero County yesterday.
SeEtta

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Monday, October 23, 2006

Lower Arkansas Valley birding

After I attended a meeting in Rocky Ford, I spent the rest of the afternoon birding around that area. Lake Meredith, which is north of Rocky Ford, had a number of both Western and Clark's Grebes as the often do. There was a raft of distant gulls and lots of waterfowl. Lake Henry, which is a little ways north of Lake Meredith, had similar species just not as many.

I enjoyed finding a Peregrine Falcon near a stock pond in the area where it had apparently been checking out a few ducks including at least 1 Lesser Scaup. At the same location a juvenile light Rough-legged Hawk perched near the pond also.

Lake Cheraw, north of La Junta, had an Eared Grebe, a lot of waterfowl and some distant shorebirds that were too far to identify. I also saw a Great Horned Owl near the lake.

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors with temps in the low 70's and no wind in that area.
SeEtta

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Sunday, October 22, 2006

Greater Scaup and Cedar Waxwing

Today I found a female Greater Scaup at Brush Hollow Reservoir near Penrose. She was with a mixed group that included a female Bufflehead, a female Redhead and 2-3 female Ruddy Ducks. I guess this was an all-girl migrating group.

There was also an adult California Gull among the Ring-billed Gulls.

I enjoyed a visit at home earlier today from a flock of 20 or so Cedar Waxwing. They continued to eat the fruit from my pyracantha (Firethorn) shrub and were working also on my crabapples. I truly enjoy listening to their high pitched call. Listen to their call and get more info on them here
SeEtta

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Saturday, October 21, 2006

Horned Grebes and other species



Yesterday the temperature went up to 68 degrees in Canon City, then it snowed last night. The snow, maybe a half inch, melted quickly in today's sunshine and temps moved up to the low 50's. Yes, it is easy to take the weather in this exceptionally mild climate here in Canon City and many other locations around SE Colorado.

The Horned Grebe in these photos is one of 3 in the area that I saw yesterday and today. They have such fiery red eyes. It was with a group of American Coot.

I was able to sneak up and get these photos from as close as 20 feet away without disturbing any of them by being stealthy. And that is my goal when birding--to not disturb the birds I am viewing and photographing. Not only is this congruent with conservation but I believe gains birders better and longer views of the birds they seek.
SeEtta

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Chukar in Canon City



Chukar, a bird in the partridge family, is a species that was introduced into North America. The first introduction occurred in 1893 when 5 pairs were shipped from Karachi, India. Subsequently a number more introductions were made to 1970 with a total of almost 800,000 birds released in 41 states. This was done because this species is a favorite of hunters.

Though Chukar have been breeding in the west for a number of years, the closest wild population is near Grand Junction on the west slope. So when I saw one by the MacKenzie bridge in Canon City today I was quite surprised. Earlier today I was also surprised to see a large quail-like bird in an area along the Arkansas River not far from the MacKenzie bridge. At that point I only had a very brief look at the bird from behind as it moved into the brush, leaving me wondering what bird I had seen.

As the photo shows, Chukar are a distinctive looking species. The bird was feeding at the edge of MacKenzie. It was smart enough to withdraw into the brushy area when vehicles drove near it.

I suspect that the bird I saw earlier today was likely another Chukar. I can only expect that these are escapees from some captive population in the area. Given the very mild climate in Canon City, the birds could survive here.

SeEtta

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Friday, October 20, 2006

Northern Flickers



It is amazing how many Northern Flickers are about in the fall in SE Colorado like the flicker in this photo. Some of these may be birds making an altitudinal migration from higher elevation locations for the winter. They are less likely to be birds migrating from northern areas as the Red-shafted form, which are commonly found in most of Colorado, usually over-winter in or near their breeding areas.

Other birds around Canon City today included several flocks of migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers. The ones I am seeing are all Audubon's subspecies. I saw the two Greater White-fronted Geese that have come into the area in the cut corn fields north of the Valco Ponds, a location where they are commonly seen every year.

There was an unusual mini-congregation of Red-tailed Hawks in some cottonwoods on my friend's property just east of Canon City. One flew out of that location then I flushed another that apparently was after a bird (I was drawn there by the calling of a bird). A few minutes later a third Red-tailed Hawk, this one an immature, flew right in to the same place where the second bird flew from. It looked first at my dog then at me, then flew off (it flew in only about 30 feet from my dog and me).
SeEtta

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Thursday, October 19, 2006

Northern Flickers

It is amazing how many Northern Flickers are about in the fall in SE Colorado like the flicker in this photo. Some of these may be birds making an altitudinal migration from higher elevation locations for the winter. They are less likely to be birds migrating from northern areas as the Red-shafted form, which are commonly found in most of Colorado, usually over-winter in or near their breeding areas.

Other birds around Canon City today included several flocks of migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers. The ones I am seeing are all Audubon's subspecies. I saw the two Greater White-fronted Geese that have come into the area in the cut corn fields north of the Valco Ponds, a location where they are commonly seen every year.

There was an unusual mini-congregation of Red-tailed Hawks in some cottonwoods on my friend's property just east of Canon City. One flew out of that location then I flushed another that apparently was after a bird (I was drawn there by the calling of a bird). A few minutes later a third Red-tailed Hawk, this one an immature, flew right in to the same place where the second bird flew from. It looked first at my dog then at me, then flew off (it flew in only about 30 feet from my dog and me).
SeEtta

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Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Visiting Cedar Waxwings

I had a visit from a flock of 10-15 Cedar Waxwing. They have been in my neighborhood for over a month and I when the weather was warmer I would occasionally hear them as I drove by an area where they were eating. And they have been visiting my yard off and on during that same time period, feasting on my pyracantha (Firethorn) berries.

Cedar Waxwing are nomadic and "irruptive". Read more about them and see a great photo here
SeEtta

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Tuesday, October 17, 2006

A few waterfowl on a cold, rainy day

Today was one of the few cold and rainy days in SE Colorado where the sun barely breaks through. It was pretty miserable, though not as nasty as other Colorado areas where a very wet snow began falling in the late afternoon, breaking tree branches that have still not lost all their leaves.

I found a few waterfowl at ponds in the area. Brush Hollow Res near Penrose had 2 Ruddy Ducks, a Pied-billed Grebe, a Great Blue Heron and a female Redhead. There were also two adult Ring-billed Gulls at the reservoir and a immature gull that didn't look like the common Ring-billed or California Gulls (it's bill was all dark and dark underparts, maybe a Herring Gull?). Only shorebirds were Killdeer. Only other crazy people out in the drenching rain were a few fishermen (though I stayed inside my car).

There were also 2-3 Ruddy Ducks at 2 Pied-billed Grebes at pond at the Sumo golf course south of Florence.
SeEtta

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Good idea to help birds

I just read a post from a birder who found a gull with a fishing lure that was caught in its beak and wing. He was able to gently hold the gull down with some sticks and remove the lure. Thanks to his actions the gull flew away without the pain and damage that the lure would have caused. This birder noted that he always packs out any fishing lures he finds around as they pose a danger to birds and other wildlife.

All responsible birders need to take actions to assist birds and this is a great way to help out with very minimal effort. I would add that birders should also pack out any fishing line they find lying around as birds too often use it in nest making with disastrous results to nestlings that are at risk of hanging with the fishing line around their necks.
SeEtta

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Monday, October 16, 2006

Blog visitor from Hong Kong

This blog has been visited by persons from 23 different countries. Of particular note is that one person (at least one IP address) has visited this blog a total of 46 times including a visit on Oct 11. I think that is too cool that someone on the other side of earth finds this site interesting enough to return that many times. Thank you Hong Kong visitor

SeEtta

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Sunday, October 15, 2006

First Canvasback Duck of the season


Canvasback Duck
Originally uploaded by ozoni11.
Waterfowl numbers continue to increase as do the number of species. Today I saw the first Canvasback of the season, 2 males and 3 females at a local private pond. Unforunately I don't have a photo of my own but am posting one from another blog as noted. There were 8-10 Redhead Ducks, several Ring-Necks, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 4 Wood Ducks and some Mallards. About 10 Killdeer were gathered on the shore.
SeEtta

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Saturday, October 14, 2006

Wild Turkey and more


After watching the Orange-crowned Warbler feeding, and the flock of Sandhill Cranes migrating over, I watched several hawks appear to violate the territory of a local Red-tailed Hawk. The local hawk called over and over again, presumably warning the trespassers that this was it's turf. When trespassing hawks came too close the resident hawk flew up to escort the others on their way.

I also found a large flock of 20-25 Yellow-rumped Warblers that were very active, right before a small rain storm arrived. Mixed in were a male and female Downey Woodpecker, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches and a Northern Flicker.

I later birded the Florence River Park just on the northwest side of Florence where I found 2 female Wild Turkeys, including the one in this photo) ambling through (it was raining so there weren't many other humans around to disturb these normally wary birds).
SeEtta

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Migrating Sandhill Cranes


I have been reading that birders in northern Colorado have been seeing a number of flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes for the past week or so. One recent report was of a very large flock of close to a thousand birds. In addition to the single bird that stayed for a few days in the Canon City area in September, I had heard one small flock flying quite high.

Today, while birding on the Riverwalk, I heard the very distinctive cackling of Sandhill Cranes followed in short order by a flock of 44 birds flying in a "V" formation to the south. This photo is of that flock.

Read more about Sandhill Cranes here.

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Orange-crowned Warbler



This morning I returned to the Canon City Riverwalk to see what birds might be there. As I expected, I did not refind the Nashville Warbler. However, I did follow the Orange-crowned Warbler in these photos for quite a while as it foraged. Though I certainly enjoy rarities like the Nashville Warbler, I truly enjoy more common species such as this species.

The photos show the olive-greenish upperparts and more yellowish underparts(dull in the fresh fall plumage), blurry streaks on breast, indistinct dark eye stripe divided by the split eye-ring, and sharp-pointed bill found in Vermivora warblers.

Compare these photos of this Orange-crowned Warbler with those below of the Nashville Warbler--both are in the same family (Vermivora) and share similarities such as the sharp-pointed bill.

See more photos of this bird here
SeEtta

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Friday, October 13, 2006

Nashville Warbler-found again & got photos





I returned to the Canon City Riverwalk this morning to see if I could refing the Nashville Warbler I found yesterday. As migrating rare warblers often do not stay around long, I was delighted to refind the bird today and in one of the same trees I found it in yesterday.

And today I got some good light and was able to get these photos which show most of the identifying field marks. Clearly visible in the top two photos are the complete eye rings, the gray head, the yellow throat, chest and undertail coverts, the white belly feathers, the greenish upperparts, the dark sharp bill, and short tail. I included the lower photo that, though it does show the head, does show clearly the white belly feathers that go to the vent area.

The Nashville Warbler was feeding today with 10-15 Yellow-rumped Warblers and a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
SeEtta

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Thursday, October 12, 2006

Nashville Warbler and others in Canon City

The day started out quite foggy but became sunny in the late morning. I went to the east end of the Canon City Riverwalk when the fog burned off to see what might be there. I found a mixed flock of passerines including several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a few Black-capped Chickadees, at least 2 each of Wilson's and Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warblers--and a rarity, a male Nashville Warbler.

The Nashville Warbler was so active, feeding in 2 hackberry trees, that I couldn't get a photo shot off (though I had my camera with me). Hackberry trees are great for warblers and other insect feeding birds, especially in the fall. Immature psyllids grow on hackberry leaves in the spring then cause "nipple galls" on the underside of leaves. The adult psyllid insects emerge from these galls in the fall providing a lot of bird food.

SeEtta

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Pinyon Jays and Bonaparte's Gull

Today I was delighted to see a well good sized flock of 70-80 Pinyon Jays at Brush Hollow State Wildlife Area/Reservoir near Penrose. Pinyon Jays are on Audubon's WatchList and they are considered a "priority species" by Partners In Flight in all Intermountain West states. This species is a pinyon and juniper habitat obligate, and they are indicators of the health of pinyon-juniper woodlands. Although Fremont County has a significant amount of pinyon-juniper woodland, it is not often that I get to see such a good size flock such as this one.

At the pond at Sumo Golf Course just south of Florence, I saw an adult Bonaparte's Gull in basic plumage-it looked like this one. My gull id skills are not the sharpest in my birding toolshed (we don't get a lot of gulls around Canon City)- but gulls are starting to make a little sense to me (and I got photos that, though not what I would want to post, allowed me to check and recheck my identification). This bird had a smallish, thin and blackish bill, a postocular/ear spot, light grey upperwings with black trailing edge to white outer primaries (and visible underneath), whitish tail.
SeEtta

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Interesting research/website with maps

There is a group conducting research on Ferruginous Hawks including telemetry. They have banded and placed radio-collars on several hawks from the Comanche National Grasslands in SE Colorado and found some interesting information on post breeding dispersal/fall movement as well as migration to wintering sites.

You can read about this research at FerruginousHawk.org. And you can even watch the movement of selected radio-collared birds (this is too cool) here (click on a bird on the right panel and watch it's movements on the map).
SeEtta

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Ferruginous Hawks near Canon City

In addition to the migrating Great Egrets and White-throated Swifts, I was surprised to find a Ferruginous Hawk perched in an agricultural field near Canon City. Ferruginous Hawks are quite uncommon here as there is little grassland habitat. The field the bird had been perched in is an alfalfa hay field that had recently been cut, so there may have been mice or other critters that were easy pickings for this hawk.

As I was watching the Ferruginous I heard the call of a Red-tailed Hawk. Apparently the Ferruginous did also as it took off into the air, only to be met by not one but two Red-tailed Hawks that appeared unhappy with this interloper. Presumably the Ferruginous is migrating through and the Red-tails are permanent residents that did not want another hawk in their territory. As I watched, one of the Red-tails dove at the Ferruginous and scored a hit as the Ferrugious was thrown to one side. As these 3 hawks continued to position and reposition themselves, I saw another Ferruginous Hawk flying at a much higher altitude but staying near the other hawks. Were there 2 Ferruginous Hawks migrating together? After a short while, the first Ferruginous left the area and so did the second one.

Also in the area was a solitary Cedar Waxwing (though I think I heard calls of more waxwings nearby). A few miles away I watched a Prairie Falcon buzz a pond, causing the waterfowl to flush.
SeEtta

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Migrating swifts and egrets



It was a wonderful morning in Canon City as I got to watch several hundred White-throated Swifts feeding over some ponds and the river before they continued their migration to southern New Mexico or maybe further into Mexico or beyond (it is not known just where these birds winter). This is the second large migration that has been seen coming through Canon City and is a little late as most birds are supposed to have migrated out of the state in September. White-throated Swifts are a species of special concern--they are listed as "moderately high" conservation need by Parters In Flight and are on the
Audubon WatchList
.

While watching the swifts I spotted a small flock of 7 Great Egrets flying in an easterly direction. At times they flew in a "V" formation as shown in the top photo. The bottom photo shows the egret flock with a White-throated Swift flying in the foreground (which makes it look larger proportionally than they truly are compared to the much larger egrets)

SeEtta

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Monday, October 09, 2006

Rainy-day birds-Brush Hollow Reservoir



For the second day in a row, we have had a cold light rain/drizzle for most of the day (very unusual in this semi-arid habitat) around much of SE Colorado including the area, both just east of Canon City. I stopped at Brush Hollow Reservoir which is a little northwest of Penrose where I was delighted to find the Sage Thrasher in these photos, skulking inside a tree cholla. This thrasher was in one of the few areas of sagebrush in Fremont County.

In this same sagebrush, cholla, grassland, and rabbitbrush habitat there were about 40 or so Mountain Bluebirds and 10-20 Western Bluebirds. Two black-backed Lesser Goldfinch perched (looking bedraggled as they were drenched from the rains) on some sunflowers and a small flock of White-crowned Sparrows flew through the area. On the reservoir I saw 5 Ruddy Ducks along with Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, Coots, a few Killdeer and a Great Blue Heron. Flying around and diving into the water were two Forster's Terns (appeared to be adults with long, deeply forked tails).
SeEtta

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More rainy-day birds

After I left Brush Hollow Res, I drove south a few miles to Florence to see if there were any other waterfowl had been brought in by the storm. I stopped at an large artificial pond at the Sumo Golf Course south of town (viewable from public streets).

Indeed, there were 30-40 Northern Shovelers, 3 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Redhead, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Great Blue Heron and some unidentifiable waterfowl curled up around the far shore. Nothing unusual, but an indication that wintering waterfowl are making their way into the area.
SeEtta

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Sunday, October 08, 2006

Turkey Vultures soaring




These photos are of one of the Turkey Vultures that was soaring over the "black hole" area of Two Buttes State Wildlife Area. This is a popular area with these vultures as they are always several either soaring or perched along the cliffs around the "black hole" area.

Turkey Vultures are an inquisitive species. Once while walking my dog, I walked near where several of these birds were perched on the ground. They flew up but only about 15-20 above the ground, then hovered over me as though checking me out. They are quite large birds and could be intimidating to those who are unaware that they bills are made only for tearing into softened, not live, flesh.
SeEtta

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Ferruginous Hawk eating snake



As I noted in a post yesterday, I watched a Ferruginous Hawk near Lamar catch and eat a snake. The upper photo shows the hawk perched on a power pole, looking down just before it flew down to grab the snake.

After grabbing the snake, the hawk flew with it only about 40 feet into the field. At one point the snake must have struck at it as the hawk jumped/flew a few feet back and into the air. Then it started eating it as is shown in the lower photo.

Ferruginous Hawks are a Colorado Division of Wildlife species of special concern. Colorado Partners In Flight considers Ferruginous Hawks to have a "high conservation need locally and throughout its range." Read more about conservation efforts here
SeEtta

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Saturday, October 07, 2006

Birding in Bent County on my way home


The photo is of my dop, Chase, who is about to get his prey--a leaf flying across the parking lot at Lake Hasty. The strong winds have been a boon for Chase as there have been hundreds of blowing leaves to apprehend. Chase is very attuned to things that blow or fly--when I first took him to a reservoir I found he would watch the gulls, Turkey Vultures and even an airplane. I am always happy to have him chasing inanimate prey objects like leaves.

On my way back home yesterday from the lower Arkansas Valley I stopped at Lake Hasty, which is below the dam at the John Martin Reservoir. Though sometimes fairly protected here, the winds were still quite strong. Most of the waterbirds were congregated by some islands in this smaller lake, including 15 or so Great Blue Heron, about 20 American White Pelicans, several Double-crested Cormorants and some Ring-necked and California Gulls.

I was surprised to see a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron fly out of a wetland area. Then 2 terns flew in--at first they looked like Least Terns, but there was only black eye patch and black bill. After checking my books when I got home very late last night, I found that first winter Forster's Terns have these plumage and bill characteristics.

At nearby Verhoef Res, a private area that must be scoped from the highway, a flock of 25 Am White Pelicans braved the strong winds to fly into this pond. Even with their massive 9 foot wingspans, the winds were difficult even for them. Nearby a large flock of 60-70 American Crows, a species that seems to excel at flying in strong and gusty winds, played with the wind currents as they moved in a loose flock.

I stopped at the Valley Grocery in the nearby (tiny) town of Hasty. The only other business in the town is the post office which is located across from the grocery, both on the corner of Main St and H50. I always encourage birders to try to make purchases in the local establishments as this is how we show rural folks that birds are good for their economies and thus they should be protected. The Vally Grocery is a favorite of mine--they always have brewed iced tea and there are always some locals there. The prices are outragiously inexpensive--they don't charge extra for being in the middle of nowhere as some establishments do. They are a great place to stop for beverages and snacks, friendly service, and clean restroom.

There were more Am White Pelicans on John Martin Reservoir, likely more than the 75 I saw. While driving next to the north John Martin State Wildlife area, I found 5-6 Yellow-headed Blackbirds in a mixed flock of Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds and Starlings. Though I didn't find any Shorted Eared Owls, I did see a Great Horned Owl. And I saw another large flock of 85-95 American Crows. At two playas in Crowley County I saw two yellowlegs, one appeared to have the upturned bill of a Greater Yellowlegs.

Yesterday and today I saw about the same number of Northern Harriers (9) as Red-tailed Hawks. I also had a nice Ferruginous Hawk yesterday near Lamar that I watched catch and eat a large snake.
SeEtta

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More birding in lower Arkansas Valley



Yesterday, Friday, the winds had increased significantly. So I went next door (one of the advantages for birders, the Blue Spruce Motel is located just a few hundred feet from the "Lamar Woods", a major birding area in town that is located directly behind Lamar Jr College) to look for Monarch butterflies in a sheltered area in the woods. I was rewarded with several Monarch's that were taking advantage of the calm winds inside the north end of the woods. The photo is one of those I enjoyed.

I was surprised to see 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets also flitting about in this protected area of the Lamar Woods. They are always moving and this area is fairly shady, so I was pleased to get this photo.
SeEtta

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Lower Arkansas Valley birding

I birded in the lower Arkansas Valley yesterday and the day before. I stayed at the Blue Spruce Motel in Lamar and would usually make a report from my room as they have wireless internet, the software on my laptop had some problem and I couldn't log on (though I was able to log on with the Palm handheld, but that is way too small for posting anything longer than a short sentence).

On Thursday I found what I believe to be a "Lillian's" subspecies of Eastern Meadowlark in the grasslands adjacent to the Two Buttes (not the "black hole" area, but right next to the buttes themselves). Lillian's are found in Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas so sightings in Colorado are quite rare.

Also by Two Buttes were several Vesper Sparrows, a Northern Harrier and lots of Horned Larks. After driving on down into the Two Buttes State Wildlife area "black hole", I was delighted to see a juvenile Golden Eagle flying. There wasn't much other action--2 Turkey Vultures played in the gusty winds, a Common Raven, a Great Blue Heron (perched on a cliff), and a Rock Wren.

At dusk I found a flock of 14 Turkey Vultures settled for the night on a large tower near the town of Two Buttes. Though most Turkey Vultures have left Colorado for the winter, this is so far southeast in the state that it is not unusual to have birds there that haven't migrated out (in fact, with temps around 80 it still feels like summer).
SeEtta

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Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Monarch butterfly watch

Monarch butterflies are threatened by a loss of habitat, global climate change and other problems caused by man. These beautiful butterflies are fascinating to read about, especially their multi-generational migration.

Click here to read an article in the New York Times about a professor in Kansas who is monitoring the Monarch butterfly migration.

And here is a link to the Monarch Watch website.

SeEtta

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Migrants arriving and some that haven't left

This morning I saw my first White-crowned Sparrows of the season, birds that breed primarily in mid and high elevation willow carrs in Colorado then migrate down to lower elevations to their winter habitat. At least 2 White-crowns were in a flock of 8-10 Song Sparrows.

On the other end of the spectrum was a female Common Yellowthroat, a bird that breeds in the lower elevation areas of Colorado including Canon City and that should be migrating to or near Mexico for the winter. Nearby I heard two likely Marsh Wrens making their "chuck" call and buzzy song.

Two Belted Kingfishers chased each other unrelentingly, emitting their rattle-like call as they flew. One Eared Grebe dove in a local pond searching for food. The grebe may be a migrant. An Osprey perched above the pond, also searching for food.
SeEtta

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Monday, October 02, 2006

Greater Roadrunner in Canon City

I stopped by the MacKenzie bridge for about 20 minutes this morning to look for the Common Black Hawk. It hasn't been seen for a week, but I have been out of town for most or all day since then, and there have been few other birders to look for it so it is unclear if it might still be around.

One other birder from out of the area stopped by for a short time to also look for the hawk. He mentioned having seen a Greater Roadrunner for the first time right near the Fremont County line off High Park Rd north of Canon City. Only about 5 minutes later as I turned to look to the south of the bridge to see if the hawk might be flying past as it has done in the past, there was a Greater Roadrunner walking across MacKenzie Ave only about 15 feet south of the bridge. The roadrunner looked at me, and I stood quite still so it would resume its travel across the road as I could hear vehicles coming. The roadrunner disappeared into the weedy area on the side of the road.

This is not where I am accustomed to seeing roadrunners--adjacent to the riparian area with hay fields for quite a distance on both sides of the road. Of course, the Arkansas River makes a great corridor for a variety of wildlife that are moving through the area. And Birds of North America notes that they are found in woodland areas and occasionally in open farmlands so I guess it wasn't as unusual for the bird to be in the area where I saw it.

SeEtta

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Sunday, October 01, 2006

Yellow-rumped Warbler boon

Yellow-rumped Warblers are moving in very good numbers down from their breeding areas in higher elevations as part of their annual migration. I stopped at the Florence River Park today and saw several large flocks of Yellow-rumps moving through. Most were of the Audubon sub-species (though the Arkansas River corridor often draws good numbers of the Myrtle sub-species).

I then drove to several locations west of Wetmore (a small town south of Florence) where even more Yellow-rumps were moving through. There were several Stellar's Jays in some of these locations as well as Black-capped Chickadees. Robins were abundant, often traveling in large groups (some may be migrating south from more northern or higher elevation locations). I saw one lonely White-breasted Nuthatch among a mixed flock of Yellow-rumps and chickadees.
SeEtta

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