Uncommonly handsome Red-tailed Hawk

While this Red-tailed Hawk is only a little more handsome than many others I have seen, I found it most engaging even though the species is common throughout most of the United States. And it has a belly-band which, though found on most Red-tailed Hawks, more very distinctive than on some I have seen. SeEtta

Canon City Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are found each winter in SE Colorado, and at least in some winters in the Ft Collins area in northern Colo. There are generally several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the Canon City area, one or more in Pueblo and Lamar. I have found them on occasion in Colorado City and even in Salida, which is likely the furthest west they have been found.

This sapsucker is a female that I photographed today in Rouse Park in Canon City. Their red crowns, white wing stripe, and distinctive black and white facial stripes are distinctive of sapsuckers but the lack of red on the nape and with more white (and more diffuse) than the clear longitudinal bands found on the Red-naped Sapsucker species that is common in forested areas of Colorado in summer. Female Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are distinguished from males by white throats as shows well in this pic. Sapwells drilled in this pine tree by this and previous sapsuckers are visible in the pic.

Fluffed gold-American Goldfinch

A nice Christmas day bird, this American Goldfinch was fluffed up for the snowy conditions today. This bird was in one of the pine trees in my backyard waiting to eat at my thistle feeder. Interestingly, not only are the several American Goldfinches competing with a number of Pine Siskins but also with Dark-eyed Juncos (a species I associate more with ground feeding on millet). SeEtta

White-breasted Nuthatch with a mouthful

In addition to the birds mentioned in the previous posts that were foraging around the Canon City Riverwalk today, the White-breasted Nuthatche in these pics was among the 4-5 White-breasted Nuthatches I saw there today. It is holding a safflower seed in it's mouth. The pinkish tongue is visible in the top pic. Also interesting in the top pic is how the feathers on it's neck make almost a bib presumably as a result of it's raising it's head up. SeEtta

Bushtit pic showing her yellow eyes

I took this pic of one of the Bushtits that I saw on the Canon City Riverwalk today (I also had a small flock in my yard but they were gone before I could get my camera). I've pushed the enlargement on the bottom pic so the quality is suffering but it is easy to see the yellow eye of this bird, a characteristic of adult female birds (males have brown eyes).

Note the small brownish "mask" on it's face. This is characteristic of the subspecies, P. m. plumbeus, that is found in the interior of the western U.S. including Colorado. SeEtta

Mountain Chickadees continue on plains

Unusually high numbers of Mountain Chickadees that have moved to the plains this winter continue throughout eastern Colo including here in the Canon City area. While I was gone on my recent trip I paid a neighbor girl to put safflower seeds in the platform feeder that the Mountain Chickadees prefer--though research shows that birds not only do not depend on feeders for all their food but have a number of feeders they go to, I just think it is not responsible to start feeding in the winter then stop. I left enough peanut pieces in the nut feeder that there were still some left when I returned.

Today all 4 Mountain Chickadees came to my feeders and I got these pics of one when it perched in one of my pine trees. I also saw at least a dozen more in one hundred yard section of the Canon City Riverwalk this afternoon. I was also delighted to see at least 8 Black-capped Chickadees, a species that took a big hit from the West Nile Virus and is just making a comeback. SeEtta

Winter Bald Eagle

Every winter Bald Eagles from more northerly locations move into SE Colorado where there is open water. Many make the Pueblo Reservoir their winter home and some of these fly upriver to fish along the Arkansas River. Today I had a meeting in western Fremont Co and took advantage of the beautiful day to do a little birding along the Arkansas River. I was delighted to find 5 American Dippers in a two-hundred foot section of the river by the Texas Creek bridge. This is a reliable breeding location so it may be that these are the parents and some offspring from last summer's nesting.

Further upriver I saw two Bald Eagles including the one in this pic. This eagle was perched several hundred feet across the highway and the river. Only a dslr camera could take a clear pic. Not only does my new Canon xti dslr camera provide good quality pics of more distant birds but it allows me to take photos of sensitive species like Bald Eagles from a sufficient distance that they are not disturbed, very important for bird photography. SeEtta

Avian Christmas ornament

I just got back home in Canon City late this afternoon so I didn't have time to do any birding here. I thought this pic I took before I left of a Red-tailed Hawk sitting in the top of a large pinyon pine made a nice Christmas pic since it looked like an ornament on top a Christmas tree. SeEtta

Handsome coyote

I watched this coyote walk into, and then around, the RV park at Rio Village in Big Bend National Park. Clearly it has lost some of it's fear of humans, clearly because it finds food them as it did while I watched it. I was surprised just how nice it's coat was-most coyotes I have seen have scraggly fur, but this one has a beautiful coat as can be seen by these pics. And it has bright yellow eyes.

FYI--I took these pics from my car and was about 40 feet at the closest (I have a 70-300 mm lens with a 1.4 extender on my Canon xti dslr camera). As with most the critters I have posted on this trip, coyotes can be found throughout SE Colo. SeEtta

Vermillion Flycatcher

Believe it or not, Vermillion Flycatchers have bred in SE Colorado. For several years they bred just south of La Junta but they have not been seen in that location for 2 years now. Though I suspect they are breeding elsewhere around the area, we don't have confirmation of any location right now.

I saw this male Vermillion Flycatcher in the Rio Grande Village area of Big Bend National Park. One of about a dozen I have seen the the park, this bird was chasing insects near a flooded area. These are such bright and colorful birds, they are stunning in sunlight. Both pics can be double-clicked to enlarge them for more detail (but you may have to put on sunglasses as they are so bright) SeEtta

Mountain lion prints

I found these mountain lion tracks on the trail about 3/4ths of the way into a 4 mile round trip hike in the high desert today. There is a hiking boot print just next to the left paw print. Big Bend NP warns visitors about mountain lions as they are prevalent in the mountain areas.

I was out in the open so I wasn't concerned, plus I am used to hiking in mountain lion country. This is definitely a species that is found in SE Colorado and I have seen 2 mountain lions while out birding near Canon City. SeEtta

Cactus Wrens

I have heard and seen a number of Cactus Wrens in the past several days here at Big Bend National Park but none I could get a reasonable pic of. As I started to leave my motel in Terlinqua, a small town just outside the NP boundary, I heard 2 Cactus Wrens calling nearby. One was on the top of the motel and the other in the desert vegetation only about 60 feet from my door--wouldn't you know. Certainly the advantage of staying in a small town is that the Chihuahuan desert is still interspersed between the businesses.

All of these pics are of one wren. I just love the call that these wrens make. Here is a good site to listen to it.

Again, this is a species that is not found in SE Colorado--at least not yet, but with warming from Global Climate Change their range may get extended from central New Mexico to SE Colorado. Double-click the pics for an eye-to-eye view. SeEtta

My first Crissal Thrashers

Again, I am going to deviate from posting birds found in SE Colorado in order to show off my first Crissal Thrasher. I saw this and a second bird together in Big Bend National Park. They are suck wonderfully distinctive and really quite large birds.

I took these pics with my Panasonic Lumix point and shoot digital camera and they came out quite good; however, they cannot be enlarged like the pics I take with my Canon Rebel xti DSLR digital. SeEtta

Black Phoebes

Back to species that are found in SE Colorado--actually Black Phoebes are found around Canon City, Pueblo and often in far SE Colorado. I saw this phoebe, and several more, yesterday in a lower elevation location near the Rio Grande River. This is a species that is always associated with water, especially some slow moving or still water that supports good numbers of flying insects. SeEtta

Sunset in Big Bend National Park

Up to now all the pics I have posted during this out of state trip have been of birds that are found also in SE Colo. But I couldn't help but post this pic of a Century Plant at sunset in Big Bend National Park I took last night. The Century Plant is native only to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts so does not occur in SE Colorado. SeEtta

Ruby-crownedKinglet

Today I birded the Caston area of Big Bend National Park, an area where the Rio Grande River flows into Santa Elena Canyon. The weather was improved today, sunny and it got into the 70's in this lower elevation area and I even stripped down to a t-shirt. I found this sweet Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the campground that is an area with a nice cottonwood gallery, mesquite and other native trees. Other landbirds included a number of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Black Phoebe, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers and Red-naped Woodpeckers.

I am very pleased at how well these pics came out as I was hand-holding my camera and the light was scattered in the tree branches where the kinglet was flitting around. Please do double-click on these pics for very close views (even it's toenails can be seen in detail). SeEtta

Big Bend NP roadrunner

I have been traveling he last two days and got to Big Bend National Park late yesterday afternoon. Though a cold front cooled this far southwest Texas location down, it did get into the 60's at the Rio Grande Village; however it was mostly cloudy which makes it more of a challenge to get good bird pics.

In the case of this super-cooperative Greater Roadrunner, I was able to get these good shots. As these pics show, roadrunners actually have some nice color in their plumage. The quality of these pics is good enough that both pics can be double-clicked to enlarge--double-clicking the top pic gives a really nice eye-to-eye view. SeEtta

Say's Phoebe

Here is another pic I took at the Bosque Del Apache NWR that I really like. This phoebe was really focussed on me at the time I took the pic. Say's Phoebes are another species seen throughout SE Colorado and even some are present during the winter there.

Please double-click on this pic--the enlargement is too cool (or "rad" in the more current vernacular) SeEtta

Sandhill Cranes in conflict

This is one of my favorite pics of Sandhill Cranes. The bird with it's wing's extended has jumped into the air while having a conflict with the crane directly in front of it (with it's beak directed up towards it). While I watched this flock for 20 minutes or so, there were numerous conflicts between cranes, often involving similar skirmishes. This is a good pic to enlarge by double-clicking. SeEtta

Sandhill Crane in flight

Some of the most dramatic scenes with Sandhill Cranes is during take off or landing. During these times it is possible to see their flank and underwing feathering like in this pic. This bird was taking off from a field where it's flock had been feeding in order to move to a safer location for the night in one of the flooded fields. SeEtta

Northern Pintail

I was impressed by the numbers of Pintail Ducks present at the Bosque Del Apache. We certainly get them in SE Colorado but I don't know of a location that gets the hundreds that I saw at the Bosque. As the numbers of Pintails is lower than desired, it is nice to see these numbers.

I was delighted with this pic as it not only shows the male Pintail's features well, it shows a green speculum bordered by copper feathers. I don' t think I've ever seen this before but Birds of North Americaonline mentions it. Be sure to double-click on the pic to enlarge it to see this color and other details up close.

I did more on from the Bosque area. I ran across a semi-truck that was swerving almost off the road then into the other lane. After I watched it do this several times I called 911. I continued following it for another 5 minutes reporting to the dispatcher our location as it was very clear that the driver was seriously impaired and a big risk for an accident. When the driver turned off the highway I followed to report the location so the police could check this out. After the truck turned into a truck stop, I returned to highway. I couldn't live with myself if I hadn't taken he small time and effort to do this, knowing that this semi could easily seriously injure and kill innocent people in a wreck. I've seen a few cars being driven erratically but this is the first time I have seen a semi like that. I hope others will do the same. SeEtta

Back to the Bosque

After 3 days of not being able to drive to a birding area, I finally got my car repaired yesterday. The good news is it wasn't my clutch--the really bad news is it was bearings out in my transmission and differential, more expensive.

Anyway I did go back to the Bosque Del Apache today for some birding and I got a number of good pics of Sandhill Cranes like this bird. It can be double-clicked for enlargement to see it's face (and it's pretty yellow eye) and feathers up close. SeEtta

Great-tailed Grackles

Ah, yes, another species found not only in SE Colorado but throughout much of that state. Most Great-tailed Grackles do migrate south for the winter from Colorado. The smaller brown bird on the left is a female. I found these in Socorro, New Mexico which is in the south central part of the state (and is the nearest town with motels near the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge). It is also where I am stuck as the clutch on my car is going out. I need to drive it into Albuquerque tomorrow to get a new clutch and I didn't want to push my luck by driving it today. So my birding today was limited to where I could walk and that was just a city park.

In addition to the grackles I did see at least 200 American Crows, many in the park but lots flying all around the area. I would have to rate them as abundant not only in this town but in the Bosque del Apache NWR where I saw hundreds of them yesterday. This species appears to be doing quite well in New Mexico. Maybe the West Nile virus hasn't been as hard on them here as in Colorado (a study published this year found that 86% of the corvids they tested in Colo in 2003 were positive for West Nile). SeEtta

Inquisitive Roadrunner

And another southwest U.S. (though it is found as far east as western Louisiana) that is also found in SE Colorado is the Greater Roadrunner; and again, I photographed this bird at the Bosque Del Apache NWR. It was an inquisitive bird--it stopped to watch me while I watched it from my car. Interesting, I found an even more inquisitive Roadrunner in Cottonwood Canyon in Baca County, Colorado a few years ago--that bird even approached within a few feet of my car.

Though this roadrunner was only about 40 feet from my car, the photo didn't come out as good as others--I'm just learning to use my new DSLR Canon xti and I think the pic is overexposed a little. The top pic is good for enlarging (by double-clicking on it ) but the bottom pic has been as enlarged as possible with reasonable quality.SeEtta

Handsome Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Here is another specialty found in SE Colorado, though they are rare to uncommon depending on the location. They occur near Canon City on the west and southwest edges of town, but only very infrequently. Again, I found this beauty at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This pic can be double-clicked to enlarge it for a super up-close and personal view (it's toenails and little nasal feathers can be seen).

Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are a southwest U.S. specialty of the mesquite and cactus habitat, though they also use deciduous trees like this male (with red on forehead and forecrown). In the locations around Canon City and other parts of SE Colorado where they are found have cactus, predominately tree cholla in most locations. They are distinctive with their barred black and white upperparts as well as their black eyeline and malar stripe. SeEtta

Gorgeous Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons are found throughout SE Colorado but I photographed this beauty at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge today. Being relatively common in many parts of the U.S., they are often overlooked by those intent on locating rarities. In the right light, like in the top pic, I find their plumage difficult to ignore.

More and more as I use my new DSLR Canon xti, I have to admit that the quality of pics is so much better than with my Panasonic point and shoot camera as shown by the close-up of this bird's head. Be sure to double click on these pics to enlarge them for close-up viewing of head and plumage. SeEtta

BosqueDelApache Sandhill Crane

To continue my deviation from birding in SE Colo, here is one of the more than 8,000 Greater Sandhill Cranes that are currently at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Boy, I have to admit that my new DSLR Canon xti camera with 70-300 lens (and 1.4 extender)does take much higher quality pics of distant birds and especially under low light than my Panasonic Lumix as this pic demonstrates. Be sure to double click on the pic to enlarge it-the bird's orange eye and the feathers show very nicely. SeEtta

Chihuahuan Ravens also at Las Vegas NWR

I also found these and at least 5 more Chihuahuan Ravens at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. Chihuahuan Ravens are larger than American Crows, like those in the last post, and Common Ravens. As these pics show pretty well, they have long nasal bristles with shortish bill. Both species of ravens have shaggy throats and wedge-shaped tails though those on Chihuahuan Ravens are shorter than Common Ravens and longer than crows. Though not particularly apparent in these pics, I found the Chihuahuan Ravens at the Las Vegas NWR are much shaggier than those I usually see around Canon City and other parts of SE Colo.

The difference between American Crows and these Chihuahuan Ravens is easier to visualize by comparing these pics with those in the last post. There were also a number of Sandhill Cranes and lots of common waterfowl at the Refuge but I wasnt' able to get any pics of those (but I will be seeing more this trip and should get pics later). SeEtta

Am Crows at Las Vegas NWR

I haven't posted for a few days because I am traveling. I took these pics of American Crows at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge near, surprise, Las Vegas, New Mexico. They were part of a large dispersed flock of several hundred birds feeding in a corn field. It's a good sign to see a good sized flock of crows since this species, as well as other members of the Corvid family, took a hard hit in the past several years from the West Nile Virus.

My new DSLR does take better quality pics, though there are a number of disadvantages compared to my little Panasonic Lumix. You can double-click on the large pic to enlarge it and get a lot of nice detail including great views of it's legs and claws. SeEtta