Birds and Nature

The small snowstorm that hit the Canon City area on Wednesday brought in some migrating American Avocets and Western Grebes for a stop-over at Brush Hollow Reservoir. Missing were the several hundred Franklin's Gulls that came in with the snowstorm last Sunday. SeEtta

Here is a video that shows some of the several hundred White-throated Swifts I spotted foraging over the Blue Heron ponds just east of Florence, CO. SeEtta

This morning I stopped to check out the Blue Heron Ponds just east of Florence to see if any migrating birds were there. Soon I spotted a number of White-throated Swifts flying above the ponds, then more, then more---until well over 200 swifts came swooshing above as they consumed insects on the fly. The top photo has been severely cropped to provide a closer-up view of a few of the swifts. I have previously observed White-throated Swifts stopping over in this area but never this large a number. There is a series of ponds in this location that are adjacent to the Arkansas River and the flock would feed for awhile over one of the ponds then rapidly move to another pond. I watched this very large flock for more than 20 minutes as they foraged back and forth from one pond to the next. It was interesting to hear what I think was the sound of the wings when there were a large number overhead. I have some video that I will process and upload to my blog tomorrow. SeEtta

While looking at the Glossy Ibis foraging in a flooded field in Florence on Monday I spotted this little American Pipit working the edges of the flooded area. SeEtta

Yesterday as I drove down MacKenzie Avenue I looked into a agricultural field that was partially flooded and saw some small objects. I turned around and returned to where I could look at them safely on this busy road and found some Wilson's Snipe foraging there. As I continued checking out that field with my scope I counted a total of 12 Wilson's Snipe, a species that does migrate in flocks. Below is a heavily cropped section that shows 3 of the birds closer up. SeEtta

The snow began falling yesterday afternoon and finally sticking to grassy areas and trees a few hours later. By the time I photographed these Yellow-rumped Warblers there was over an inch on most trees branches and the snow was still coming down in big flakes. The small group of 4-5 Yellow-rumped Warblers foraged actively in these tree branches that overhung water and must have had some continuing insect activity. Aw, spring in the Rockies. SeEtta