Pretty White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrows are a rather rare find in my area of Colorado so I was delighted to find this one. And I believe it is even more unusual as it appears to be a tan-striped form. SeEtta

Possible Hybrid BlackXEastern Phoebe

The hybrid Black X Eastern Phoebes I usually see are more clearly intermediate in plumage than this bird. However, the inverted 'v' on it's chest has an unusually deep cleavage with almost a line of darker feathers coming across below the deep part of this cleavage. Also the abruptly extended crown is more extreme than on typical Black Phoebes and similar to one of the clear hybrids I have seen and photographed previously. Again, not definitive but with the number of breedings between Black and Eastern Phoebes in this area (Fremont County,CO), there is the possibility that hybrids will breed back to 'pure' birds ('crossback'). The offspring of these birds look like typical birds of the species. SeEtta

"Follow the Frog" video clip -very creative & entertaining

This is really too cool and takes less than a minute to watch. SeEtta

More pics of third Harlan's Hawk

I am pleased that I got the natural glint in this hawks eye in these two pics (no, I didn't use flash, this is natural). Though the top pic and those in the post below appear to show a dark morph Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk, the bottom pic clearly shows there is too much white on the bird's chest and head to be a dark morph (and why I wanted to get a frontal view of this bird). As dark as it is though I guess it fits into a category of 'dark intermediate' (per Raptors of Western North America by Brian Wheeler). This certainly illustrates the importance of seeing the front as well as side and back of these birds. SeEtta

Third Harlan's Hawk yesterday

In addition to the 2 Harlan's Hawks I posted below from Pueblo County, I also found a Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk in Otero County. Interestingly, Otero County is where more wintering Harlan's Hawks have been found. Many of it's features can be seen in the bottom pic that I got as it was just taking off from the light pole where I photographed it in the top pic.

Though I try not to flush the birds, especially raptors, I photograph these Harlan's seem extra sensitive and I was the reason it flew from this light pole. I was able to get more photos as it flew and then landed not far away (though I stayed further back to avoid flushing it again). SeEtta

2nd Harlan's Hawk

This is the second Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk that was I found perched not far from the dark morph Harlan's in the previous post. This one, unfortunately more distant so photos not as definitive (nor were my brief views in my spotting scope), is clearly not a dark morph but appears to be an intermediate morph. SeEtta

Refound Harlan's Hawk in Pueblo County

Yesterday I birded in Otero and eastern Pueblo Counties of Colorado. I returned to the location I found the dark morph Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk I posted here on October 15 and refound what seems most likely to be the same bird-same exact location, dark morph with similar markings. This time I was able to not only photograph it flying but also perched plus I got very good, albeit distant, views through my spotting scope.

Interestingly I found a second Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk, a bird with different markings, about a half mile away from where this bird was flying and perching. This bird did not fly over to chase the other Harlan's off even though the second bird flew closer, about a quarter mile away. Interesting. Will post the other's photos next. SeEtta

A second Harlan's Hawk in Canon City

I spotted this Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk today perched in a tree about 150 feet on the other side of an agricultural field. The one I found several days ago appeared to be a dark morph while this one is more an intermediate morph. Though it's possible that with that darker appearing hawk being high in the sky and back-lit it might have causing my view and photo to look darker on the darker parts of the hawk. Since these are pretty rare in my area it would seem more likely that it would be the same hawk. But I would think I could have seen some of the white on it's breast and underwing coverts if it was this hawk. Maybe the recent high winds have brought two Harlan's to Canon City.

Though not close-up photos, these show some details of this hawk. It's head is brown/black with white streaks and with a white auricular area and throat. It's upper tail is reddish on the distal portion and whitish basally. Brian Wheeler, in Raptors of Western North America, states: "When seen at close range, most harlani have some tinge of rufous on the dorsal surface of the distal portion of the rectrices." It's white breast has a lot of dark streaking as found on more intermediate plumaged Harlan's. SeEtta

Snow Geese, off the beaten flyway, in Canon City

I found this adult and juvenile Snow Geese feeding in a previous planted corn field that has been tilled under. It was being watered so both insects and seeds were drawing not just these guys but hundreds of American Crows (one in pic), about a hundred Canada Geese plus 8 Greater White-fronted Geese (first of the season). Snow Geese are rare here as we are right up against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, away from their usual flyway haunts. SeEtta

Video: Way too cute orphaned walruses

Orphaned walruses cared for at Alaska SeaLife Center from anchoragedailynews on Vimeo. According to a news article: “We figure (leaving baby walruses behind) is probably a common situation,” said SeaLife Center President Tara Riemer Jones. “It just happened close to a community this time.” Pacific Walruses, an estimated 200,000 of them, migrate along with the southern edge of pack ice from the Bering Sea to the Chukchi and Beaufort seas as it expands and recedes through the seasons. Shrinking ice means less walrus habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommend they be protected under the Endangered Species Act." So the two amazingly cute baby walruses shown in this video, named Pakak and Mitik, were 4 to 6 weeks old when they lost track of their herd and fortunately rescued. They were brought to the Alaska Sea Life Center where this video was taken. Walruses are running out of habitat thanks to Climate Change and many more baby walruses are at risk of being orphaned but most won't survive. SeEtta (click on the work 'Vimeo' in far right bottom corner to view full screen-best view)

Lots of Evening Grosbeak

While birding around Colorado City,CO yesterday I found a large flock feeding in large conifers. They were feeding high in the canopy so not easily seen (or photographed) but I believe there were a good 60 of them. I usually see these birds eating at my feeder so enjoyed watching them feeding naturally. SeEtta

Unusually light and unmarked Ferruginous Hawk

I spotted this very white hawk in Colorado City, Colorado along the southern front range. As soon as I stopped my car to photograph it, this very wary bird took off flying high then distant. I tried to follow after it in my car but it was far out of sight.

Besides it's bright white plumage, it has distinct dark wrist commas but I cannot see any patagial markings.  There is no indication of a belly band.  There are narrow black bands on the distal half of it's otherwise white tail.  White windows on primaries and legs are feathered all the way to the feet (in white feathers). As white as it is and so minimally marked, I thought it was a Krider's Red-tailed Hawk. Wrong, I have been informed that this is a very pale juvenile Ferruginous Hawk. SeEtta

Wetmore,CO Wildfire (photos 7-8)

These are the last 2 photos that were fairly clear, taken at 6:45 and 6:48 pm respectively. It was getting too dark so not as crisp as earlier photos but they show how the conflagration blew up in the winds. SeEtta

Wetmore,Co Wildfire (photos 3-6)

These are the next sequence of photos taken from about 6:40 pm to 6:45 pm.

Winds had picked up and flames exploded on what I think is the ridge behind the town of Wetmore. More to come. SeEtta

Wetmore,CO Wildfire (photos 1-3)

These are photos I took early this evening of the Wetmore Wildfire from about 5 miles north (and not in the way of firefighting efforts).

Photos are in time sequence from around 6:30 pm to 6:40 pm. Photos taken with very long dslr camera lens outfit (equivalent of 900 mm lens). More to come. SeEtta

Another Harlan's Hawk, this one in Canon City

I was surprised to spot this Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk as I drove across the Raynold's bridge over the Arkansas River well into the town of Canon City. Though it was flying low to the ground when I spotted it, by the time I could safely pull over and get out to photograph it the bird had gained a lot of elevation in strong winds. It may have flown up quickly to meet a local Red-tailed Hawk, with feet hanging down, that I expect came to escort it out of it's territory. They circled each other high above for several minutes before going their separate ways. It is quite unusual to get a Harlan's Hawk here. SeEtta

Bighorn Sheep in Bighorn Sheep Canyon-Colorado

I spotted 3 bighorn sheep ewes near the side of the highway near Cotopaxi, CO in the Bighorn Sheep Canyon this week. The top two photos are of 2 of the 3 ewes feeding on the more lush vegetation near the road. The middle photo shows some the grasses projecting from that ewes mouth as she chews.

The ewes kept looking up the hill behind them and later the lamb in the bottom photo came into view. SeEtta

Another male Williamson's Sapsucker, at The Abbey

I birded The Abbey in Canon City this morning hoping to refind a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker I found there yesterday but no luck. However, I found this striking male Williamson's Sapsucker working a siberian-type elm tree (seems to be the favorite tree for a lot of sapsuckers this fall in this area). SeEtta

Eye-catching Williamsons's Sapsuckers-

I think that adult male Williamson's Sapsuckers are just such striking birds with their jet black and white plumage accented by their yellow bellies and just a touch of bright red. I found the one in the bottom pic at Lakeside Cemetery in Canon City at 4 pm yesterday (very unusual to find one at that late time of day). I returned this morning to see that there are 2 adult male Williamson's and 1 adult male Red-naped Sapsuckers. Watched them chase each other around and from tree to tree. Then watched the one if the top pic as it ate fruits from a hackberry tree. Very entertaining. SeEtta

Immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Canon City

Canon City hosts Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers every winter along with Red-naped and Williamson's. This is the first of the season bird I found today in a small park with many hackberry trees. I observed this bird eating some of the fruit from the tree but later watched it drilling into several hackberry trees. This is an immature Yellow-bellied that is in the rather drawn out process for molting into it's full adult plumage which may not occur until well into winter. SeEtta

Migrating Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes are migrating south across Colorado and these are a few of those that I saw during my trip yesterday to the La Junta area. These were part of small group I saw at Lake Cheraw. They were all standing when I arrived but as shown 2 have laid down with one tucking it's beak into it's back feathers to rest. Though I have seen thousands of these cranes in several states, I can't remember ever seeing one laying like this on the ground.

Lake Cheraw is a good place for them to rest as there is no active recreation (no boating, no fishing, etc) here to disturb them though they are hunted in this flyway I have not seen hunters here. The group in the bottom pic were flying near Lake Henry but changed direction to fly to another nearby lake SeEtta

First of the season Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk

Yesterday I drove east down the Arkansas River Valley in Colorado and spotted this Harlan's Hawk in eastern Pueblo County. The white on it's face is somewhat visible in the bottom pic as is a speckling of white on it's underparts.  This is the first one I have seen this fall as they return to winter in this valley. SeEtta

Excellent discussion of bird photography etiquette

"If you have worked hard to get close to a great subject or a flock of birds—remember that working the edge of a flock is usually best, be sure to exit as carefully as you approached so that you do not disturb the birds. And that is true whether you are by yourself or with a large group. I have on countless occasions seen a selfish photographer who is finished working a bird or a group of birds simply stand up when they were done thus flushing the bird(s). That is like saying, “I am done and I do not care at all about you or the birds…” ' I,too, have seen many photographers and birders do this. This was written by the famous photographer Arthur Morris and is part of larger treatise 'Field Etiquette for Nature Photographers' on the BirdPhotographers.net website. SeEtta

Video: "Osprey -- the ultimate fisher"

Awesome video of Osprey catching multiple (5+) fish in one scoop, then a good size flounder under 3 feet of water then another Osprey taking about a 5 lb steelhead trout that it can barely fly off with. This fantastic video clip is from Archive.org: "Wonderful footage of an osprey catching fish. Hovering at moderate height, the osprey dramatically plunges down feet first to snatch fish from the water's surface. A shake of the head as it emerges from the water; the osprey carries its skilfully captured prey with its long talons. More osprey videos can be found on www.arkive.org, along with videos of other birds of prey, fish and thousands more fascinating species." "ARKive ( http://www.arkive.org ) is a unique global initiative, gathering together into one centralised digital library, films, photographs and audio recordings of the world's species. ARKive is leading the 'virtual' conservation effort - finding, sorting, cataloguing and copying the key audio-visual records of the world's animals, plants and fungi, and building them into comprehensive and enduring multi-media digital profiles. " SeEtta

Video: "Birds-of-Paradise Project" Trailer

This is a fantastic video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology--gorgeous birds with fascinating behavior with wonderful videography. SeEtta

Red-naped Sapsucker: 2 more close-ups

As below, the increased sunlight allowed me to get these two additional close-ups of the male Red-naped Sapsucker in the dry gulch/wash I have followed. I was happy to get some views of it's yellow belly though they don't show up as bright as they did since the sun was behind the bird. Visible are some of the sap wells in this siberian-type elm. I returned today to see if he was still there but I did not see him and expect he may have continued his migration travels. SeEtta

Red-naped Sapsucker: interesting views

Yesterday the sun was shining better and though this Red-naped Sapsucker stayed in the shade, I was able to get this close-up that highlights his bright red throat and crown. And I got the pic below when he was stretching, providing a rarely seen view of the underside of his wings.  SeEtta

Video Clip: Neglected Ducks Get Their First Swim

This is a cute video clip from Woodstock Sanctuary (tho about domestic ducks). The moral of this story is you can lead a duck to water, even through him in, but you can't make him swim-lol. SeEtta

Warblers also using dry gulches/washes for migration corridors

I was surprised to find the Orange-crowned Warbler shown above and several Yellow-rumped Warblers including the one below in the same dry gulch/wash where I have found migrating sapsuckers. I think many if not most of us associate riparian areas, and other places with water (or parks,etc where irrigation is done) as locations where warblers species are found during migration. It does make some sense that dry gulches/washes might be suitable migration corridors for at least a limited number of warblers since these areas catch most of the water that runs off during storms so they provide the most healthy trees and shrubs, and a higher likelihood of insects and small fruit that they might eat.

I returned today and saw one Orange-crowned Warbler and a few Yellow-rumps, likely the same birds from yesterday that are using this area as a migration stop-over as they follow the dry gulch/wash down from their higher elevation breeding areas (6,500 to 9,500 per Colo Breeding Bird Atlas I). SeEtta

Sapsuckers migrating via dry washes in Colorado?

In the fall of 2010 I found and followed several Williamson's Sapsuckers drilling sap wells in a complex of siberian-type elm trees south of Canon City that were in a dry gulch/wash located in pinyon juniper habitat. I noted some thoughts at that time that they these sapsuckers, that breed in conifer forests and especially aspen stands at higher elevation (7,000 feet+) in Colorado, might be using these dry gulches/washes for migration.

Last year was a poor year for Williamson's Sapsuckers around Canon City but this year got off to an early start when I found 2 males and a female in Lakeside Cemetery on August 28, a good month before I have previously seen this species here. Since then I have found several more Williamson's in the area including the these in the top two pics here that were on the siberian-type elm tree (only 2 trunks as much of the complex was destroyed last year) in the dry gulch/wash where I found them 2 years ago. And yesterday I found the Red-naped Sapsucker shown in the bottom pic on that tree.

I have also found evidence of fresh sap wells drilled in another siberian-type elm in a dry gulch/wash located at some distance from this one. I think that using these dry gulches/washes makes sense as migration corridors, at least in fall, since water collects in these providing the most moisture for healthy trees--especially important during these years of severe drought. Other birds seem to be using them for migration also--see next post. SeEtta

Female Black-throated Blue Warbler

I found this female Black-throated Blue Warbler earlier this month on private property in the Florence, CO area. This species is quite rare in my area. SeEtta