Birds and Nature

Birding yesterday at Antero Reservoir yielded a number of interesting birds including this Yellow-billed Loon that stayed for several minutes fishing relatively close to shore (compared with many loons that I have seen as distant dots in my spotting scope) as I watched with Colorado birder, John. Another arctic species, only juveniles like this wandered down to Colorado occasionally. Though the bottom pic is mostly duplicative, I posted it as it gives a better view of the size and shape of the loon's bill. SeEtta

This Snow Bunting was found at Antero reservoir at 8,000 feet by Colorado birders Lock and Glenn yesterday. I ran into another Colorado birder, Brandon, and we had been looking for the bird as Snow Buntings are quite rare in Colorado. As we stood talking with a fisherman who was inquiring about why so many people were looking for it, it walked between 2 boulders nearby then flew a short distance away. We followed to take photos and this was the most fearless little bird, allowing quite close approach. I took this pic with it less than 15 feet away. After we took pics and watched it for over 5 minutes, it continued foraging along the shoreline of a fishing pier undisturbed by our close approach. SeEtta