Refound the Broad-winged Hawk

I refound the Broad-winged hawk I discovered in Canon City earlier this week. Glad to get some photos showing underparts as it flies. SeEtta

Green Heron being invisible

Though difficult to photograph through all the branches plus a chain link fence, this Green Heron seemed to think it was invisible when I spotted it this morning. You have to admire these skulking birds that peak out from behind small branches they seem to believe cover them completely. SeEtta

Over a hundred White-throated Swifts migrating over Canon City area

Please don't complain about the photo--this flock of White-throated Swifts that contained this one bird was circling over a hundred feet over the Arkansas River (likely place for insects to capture) and they do not fly slow. I was amazed to find well over a hundred of these birds that stopped briefly to feed as they are migrating through. I tried to look at every swift I could to see if there were other swift species but only saw White-throated. SeEtta

Blue-gray Gnatdcatcher migrating through

I found this migrating Blue-gray Gnatcatcher flitting about the shrubs on the Canon City, CO Riverwalk this morning. This species breeds in the foothills shrublands that begin just west of Canon City. SeEtta

Little screech owl gets released

In the top pic the Western Screech Owl is so ready to be released it looks like a runner in the starters position, ready to fly off. And that is what it did. Diana Miller was going to kinda put it up to the nearby evergreen tree but it flew quickly from her hands, around that tree to one just on the other side of the driveway--it knew where it wanted to go.

The bottom pic shows the little owl where it basically buried itself in this arborvitae tree-it's wings a little off to the side but it's body standing on a branch a little inside with the protection of it's dense branches. Though it readjusted position a few times (especially when local Am Robins pair saw it in their territory and threw a fit) but remained there about 10-12 feet above the ground in this tree until dark. It is likely it has now left, maybe done some hunting, and refound it's roost tree. This was a fun event. SeEtta

W. Screech Owl released back to the 'hood'

This is Diana Miller who is the Director of the Pueblo Raptor Center holding a Western Screech Owl. It was not acting right plus being mobbed by Blue Jays and a neighbor, Nancy Jordan, fortunately was observing it in her yard and contacted local Wildlife Office Zach Holder. Long story short--I ran into Zach and he told me he was trying to make arrangements for someone to meet him halfway to transport an injured owl to the Pueblo Raptor Center so I volunteered to do the transport.

The owl turned out to have a concussion and has been in the Raptor Center for past 3 weeks but was ready to be released. Per protocol raptors are released at or near where they are found. So Diana brought the little guy (yup, a male) back to my 'hood' in the Lincoln Park area of Canon City, CO late this afternoon and is preparing to release him into one of the nearby evergreen trees. The rest of the story above. SeEtta

Long-billed Curlews: another flight plus a landing pic

I do enjoy watching and photographing these curlews in flight (this photo enlarges nicely so click on it for close up views of each bird). And they are neat when they land as shown in pic below--they have their wings outstretched, showing off the underwing and their sides not usually seen. SeEtta

Long-billed Curlew in flight

I took these photos yesterday when it was sunny and not snowing as the Long-billed Curlew took flight several times. These flight shots show their neat plumage. SeEtta

Cold-looking Curlew in snow storm

Though it was 70 degrees F here in Canon City yesterday, the overnight low dropped to 22 with this snowstorm and this Long-billed Curlew sure looks like it trying to keep warm. SeEtta

Both male and female Long-billed Curlews

Though all Long-billed Curlews have very long bills the bills are females are exceptionally long. The above pic is of a male and pic below is of a female. SeEtta

Fabulous-Long-billed Curlews in Canon City area

I was so surprised and delighted yesterday when I spotted these Long-billed Curlews feeding in a hay field that was being flooded. I have never seen them in Fremont County or even closer than 100 miles east of here. I found a flock of 14 then found 3 more in nearby flooded field for a total of 17 of these birds that are a species of concern. More pics to come. SeEtta

A late(?) overwintering immature Harris's Sparrow

Also in the fairly unusual species to visit the Canon City area are immature Harris's Sparrows that usually visit in the winter. I found this one in a friend's yard and it was not cooperative about being viewed or photographed so stayed in the middle tree branches (can't blame it as unfortunately there are a number of outdoor cats there and my complaints have fallen on deaf ears about the carnage of native birds by these domestic cats). The pink conical bill that is found on this species is clearly seen as is part of it's limited black bib and black flecking on it's face and crown. The buffy base color of it's face shows but is washed out some by the backlighting. It also shows the white belly and brownish flank streaking found on immatures.

I had an immature Harris's Sparrow about a quarter mile away this winter so this is possibly the same bird. However it was located at a house with bird feeders then and this location has no feeders. SeEtta

Visiting Broad-winged Hawk in Canon City

Broad-winged Hawks are rare visitors to the Canon City area with usually only one or two birds found each year. I spotted this one as I was driving and was able to get these good photos before it flew off. It is one of the more heavily marked birds and I find it's dense barring. And that 'pale orangish brown iris' (well described by Brian Wheeler) is unusual for adult hawks which usually have darker irises. SeEtta

Black-crowned Night-Heron, still around?

I was delighted this morning to find that the Black-crowned Night-Heron was at Sell's Lake. It was active and did some feeding providing the view below (it caught some small food item but I can't tell what it is). Then it flew off down the Arkansas River giving me the opportunity for the good flight shot above. I checked back this evening and didn't see it so not sure if it will return. SeEtta

Very pretty red fox

Since foxes have adapted so well to human habitats it is not unusual to see them in urban areas including the Canon City Riverwalk. There was something about this red fox's face that seemed unusually pretty. SeEtta

First of the year Green Heron

I did a little birding at Sell's Lake this afternoon, right before/during and after a nice rain shower. The Black-crowned Night-Heron appears to have moved on but I found this first-of-the-year Green Heron. Wish I could have got a really good photo of it but it had started raining plus I was shooting through the chain link fence that surrounds this private pond. There were also dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers, most in bright new plumage working the trees around the pond. SeEtta

Grandaddy snapping turtle

This very large common snapping turtle is also inhabiting Sell's Lake along with a number of both resident and migrating bird species. SeEtta

A very uncommon Black-crowned Night-Heron also at Sell's Lake

Boy, today was filled with lots of uncommon birds including this very uncommon Black-crowned Night-Heron. Along with a number of other birds including all three phoebes, a few Blue-winged Teal, some gorgeous Tree and Barn Swallows in their bright new plumage was this roosting Black-crowned Night-Heron. Unfortunately it was resting it's head to the opposite side from where I was located outside this fenced private pond so I couldn't get a photo with it's head showing. SeEtta

4 Black, 1 Eastern and 1 Say's Phoebes in Canon City today

This is one of two Black Phoebes I found foraging at Sell's Lake today. There was also a Say's Phoebe and an Eastern Phoebe feeding there. At one point they were feeding near each other so that all three phoebes were within 25 feet of each other. I subsequently found 2 more Black Phoebes at the MacKenzie end of the Canon City Riverwalk. This is a species that has undergone a major population expansion in Fremont County since I found the first one in 1995. SeEtta

Big Hermit Thrush push thru Canon City today

I was really surprised when I saw about 15 or more Hermit Thrushes in less than 15 minutes in and around the Sell's Lake parking area for the Canon City Riverwalk. I subsequently found 2 more Hermit Thrush almost 3 miles east of there near the McKenzie Ave parking area for the Riverwalk plus one more on agricultural lands about a half mile north of the Riverwalk. This is also an unusual number of birds for this area as this species is usually seen as single birds in Fremont County. Seems likely the snow storm and winds yesterday were involved in this also. SeEtta

Wilson's Phalaropes-18 plus one lost

I was surprised to find this lone Wilson's Phalarope swimming in Sell's Lake. Phalaropes are usually found in flocks so I suspect this lone bird got lost from it's buddies in the snow storm and winds yesterday. So about an hour later I found 18 more Wilson's Phalaropes a 4-5 miles east of Sell's Lake, swimming in the Arkansas River. This species is seldom seen in Fremont County. SeEtta

Flock of American Pipits in Canon City area

I found a good sized flock of 30-35 American Pipits in a flooded agricultural field just to east of Canon City. This is a rather high number for my area as we usually see only 1 to a few of this species and they have been reported on a rather uncommon basis in this area. SeEtta

Northern Parula, also at Neals Lodges in Concan

I photographed this Northern Parula yesterday morning at Neals Lodges where the Tropical Parula continued to be present. A group of us saw and heard the Northern Parula yesterday morning but could not see it well and it's song sounded so much like the Tropical that we believed it was a likely a second Tropical Parula. One of the group uploaded his photos on his computer and saw the black and orange bands on it's chest (also has split white eye ring and the yellow does not extend into the bluish face like on a Tropical Parula) Lesson learned: just because it sounds like a zebra and looks basically like a zebra and there is another zebra in the area, don't believe it isn't a horse until you check the field marks. SeEtta

One of the many Vermilion Flycatchers I have seen this week

There are several Vermilion Flycatchers at Neals Lodges this week and have seen them at other locations in the area including Chalk Bluff Park.
And I spotted this Blue Grosbeak at the pecan grove at Neals Lodges also. SeEtta

More Painted Bunting pics

I couldn't help but take several photos of the colorful bird. It looks like it is one of the first to return to this area. SeEtta

Pretty Painted Bunting

I birded an area called Chalk Cliffs Park (actually a private location that has day passes for $8 for those not staying there. I hadn't even gotten out of my car when I spotted this beauty. SeEtta

Tropical Parula in song

This Tropical Parula is a hard core singer--it sings from morning, less in afternoon but some again at evening. It has apparently been here almost 3 weeks. I found records of one last year that stayed also but no other reports on ebird. This is only one of many neat birds I am seeing at Neals Lodges (more in next posts). SeEtta

Rare Tropical Parula at Neals Lodges in Concan, TX

I came to Neals Lodges in Concan because it is a great birding hotspot but I was surprised to find out there was a Tropical Parula here. I refound the bird both yesterday and today, not difficult to locate it's raspy song but it is difficult to find it when it is 80-100 feet in the top of one of the many tall trees. I was able to follow it today when it flew into a shorter tree so I could get some reasonable photos. More photos to follow. SeEtta