LDWF Surveys Oil Damage at Pass a Loutre WMA

This is becoming truly catastrophic. The Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries supervisor "surveys and examines oil damage to wetland habitat at Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area in the southern portion of Plaquemines Parish." SeEtta

Another pic of Great Bluer Heron nestling

For a super close up view, double-click on the pic to enlarge it.I took these pics with my digital SLR camera with a 400 mm lens and a 1.4 extender--combining that with the multiplier of 1.6 because it is not a full frame camera, I am shooting the equivalent of close to 900 mm. It is unethical to approach nesting herons or other birds too closely--they do flush from their nests when humans are close (which I observed this week when the owner of some cattle that had strayed into the area walked right underneath the nests) which puts eggs and very young nestlings in danger from the elements. Also Great Blue Herons as well as other birds do abandon their nests and nestlings due to too much disturbance. If you want good photos of these birds it is your obligation to get the photo equipment that does not put the birds at risk.

Great Blue Heron nestlings

For super close up views, double-click on the pics to enlarge them.These Great Blue Herons are in rookery that nests in large cottonwood trees in Holcim Wetlands in eastern Fremont Co., CO. This year a group of Double-crested Cormorants began nesting there also.
The nestlings in these pics are young. They won't begin to fly until they are 50-60 days of age but at least one was already learning to extend it's wings and make a few flapping motions while I was there. SeEtta

Hummingbirds already nesting in Canon City,CO

The female Black-chinned Hummingbird in the top pic has been sitting on the nest for at least 2 days. That nest is at eye level and only just a few feet off the Riverwalk trail. The hummingbird below, also a Black-chinned, was still working on her nest 2 days ago so began sitting on the nest either yesterday or today. This hummingbird's nest is about 30 feet up and about 15 feet off the trail. SeEtta

Celebrate Endangered Species Day, May 21 - National Wildlife Federation

Celebrate Endangered Species Day, May 21 - National Wildlife FederationHappy Endangered Species Day

Tricolored Heron-another short video clip

This very short video clip is a little difficult as the Tricolored Heron is behind tall cattails and the video camera does not always focus well as it moves quickly about but it provides a view of how the heron engages in 'dart' feeding. It is probably best to run it at least 2 times to see the heron as it is moving rapidly through most of the clip and the picture shakes as I have difficulty holding the camcorder totally still when I have it extended to it's full 40X optical zoom. At the end the heron is standing still behind the cattails. SeEtta

Tricolored Heron video clip

This video clip shows the Tricolored Heron as it does some fishing along the edge of the cattail marsh. SeEtta

Tricolored Heron-a rare vagrant in Fremont Co., CO

This Tricolored Heron was found yesterday by local area birder Rich, at the Holcim Wetlands in eastern Fremont County, CO. Probably a first for the county, it is also a rarity throughout Colorado. When I arrived the sun was shining and only starting to get cloudy when I got the top pic.
I sat and watched the heron for about 10 minutes and by the time I got the bottom pic it had started to rain so that pic is not as bright and sharp as the top pic (demonstrates the difference that light makes). However it does show it's distinctive white belly. I enjoyed watching this heron make several 'dash' moves to go quickly after prey--a very fast effort I might add. Though I was enjoying observing this heron feed, I took off shortly after this pic as it started thundering. SeEtta

Broad-wingedHawk video clip

This short video clip is not the greatest as it is difficult to hand=hold it steady at really high zoom. SeEtta

More pics of Broad-winged Hawk in juvenal plumage

These two pics of the light morph Broad-winged Hawk I found on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk this morning show some of the traits of it's juvenal plumage. The top pic shows well the light colored supercilium. The bottom pic shows the 4 bands plus broad subterminal band found on the 'narrow-banded type' identified in Wheeler's Raptors of Western North America. SeEtta
These pics enlarge nicely for close-up viewing so just double-click on each pic. SeEtta

Juv Broad-winged Hawk on Canon City Riverwalk

I found this Broad-winged Hawk on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk this morning. I first spotted a Cooper's Hawk chasing what looked like a Broad-winged Hawk across the middle part of the Riverwalk but I wasn't sure as it looked a little different. Later this morning I found this hawk which is in juvenal plumage and the apparent reason that the hawk I saw earlier looked a little different. This species is a rare visitor to the Canon City Riverwalk though sightings seem to be increasing each year. These pics enlarge nicely so double-click on each one. SeEtta

How You Can Help Save Wildlife in the Gulf

More new arrivals on the Canon City,CO Riverwalk

The Green Heron in the top pic was feeding at the outfall of a stormwater pipe where it flows into the Arkansas River across from the Canon City, CO Riverwalk. There were also several Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding by sallying and even picking insects from the rocks at this same outfall.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher was next to the Riverwalk bluff trail. And the Indigo Bunting was in the same area.
It is always good to see Olive-sided Flycatchers as their numbers are dwindling. It was very overcast when I photographed the flycatcher and bunting so their pics are darker than the heron which had some sunlight to brighten that pic. SeEtta

Evening Grosbeak all around town in Canon City,CO

Evening Grosbeak invaded Canon City, CO about 3 weeks ago and have been seen in varying parts of town. I have had them in my neighborhood which is near the Canon City Riverwalk and they are on the Riverwalk in very good numbers including this one feeding along the bluff trail yesterday. I have had 2 different residents on the north side of town, from more than one to about 2 miles from the riparian corridor, who described having these birds in their yards in the past 2 weeks. SeEtta

RMore White-eyed Vireo pics

Here are two more pics of the White-eyed Vireo I found on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk yesterday. Both of these pics show the whitish throat and yellowish wash on it's flanks found on this species.
I birded the Riverwalk again today and did refind this bird but only briefly as it was mid-afternoon by the time I made my way to it's location (lots of other enjoyable, though not rare, birds along the way). SeEtta

White-eyed Vireo in Canon City, CO

I found this White-eyed Vireo yesterday on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk. They are very rare birds in this part of Colorado. Though I see lots of them when I travel to So Texas, this is the first one I have seen not only on the Riverwalk but anywhere in Fremont County. The top pic shows the very distinctive white iris.
The bottom pic shows the gray nape noted by Sibley as a one of the field marks for this species. SeEtta

Close and intimate pics of Western Tanager

When one is very still and quiet they can get intimate photos of birds like these I got this afternoon of one of the close to 2 dozen Western Tanagers I saw on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk in less than 3/4 mile of trail. The bottom pic is a super enlargement of the top pic and it is of sufficient quality that it can be enlarged even more by double-clicking on it. SeEtta

Yellow-throated Vireo at Canon City, CO Rivewalk

I found this beautiful Yellow-throated Vireo on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk this afternoon.
A rare visitor here, it was busy foraging on an unusually cool (mid 40's) and very cloudy day for this area.

Canada Goose family on a trip down the Arkansas River

I watched this small (many Canada Geese have 6,8, 10 or even more goslings) family of Canada Geese traveling down the Arkansas River near the Canon City, CO Riverwalk last week-end. I found the shared 'rhythm' that the parents exhibited in their head and neck movements most interesting. Being the good parents they are, Canada Geese almost always swim with one parent in front and one in the rear with the children safely ensconced in the middle. SeEtta

Hungry Yellow Warbler

I found this male Yellow Warbler on Saturday on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk as it got a few songs out in between mouthfuls of food. It was a very busy day on the Riverwalk so this warbler may have just arrived. Evening Grosbeak can be heard calling, loudly, in the background SeEttaSorry that the pictures jiggles a little but if you have ever followed a warbler with binoculars you know it is a challenge to keep up with their almost constant movement and I am hand-holding the camcorder (I can't imagine how one could put the camcorder on a tripod because of the difficulty tracking them). If the picture is black, just click on the start button on the bottom right of the screen.

Solitary Sandpiper still pic

Here is a still pic of the Solitary Sandpiper in the video clip. SeEtta

Hide N Seek quail

I first heard this Scaled Quail singing and found it on top of a fence post. It quickly flew down and "hid" by standing still in the shade of this tree cholla. This pic enlarges nicely so just double-click on it. SeEtta

Solitary Sandpiper video clip

I have been hassling with this blog site to get this posted for the last 4 days! I found this Solitary Sandpiper loafing at my friend's pond last Saturday. It looks like it lost all but the stub of one leg. The noises you hear from the audio are from blackbirds nearby as this sandpiper made know audible sounds even when it opened and closed it's beak.Wow, According to ,"The Solitary Sandpiper lays its eggs in the tree nests of several different song birds..."--that surprised me. SeEtta