Birds and Nature

I found two more pics of the male Hooded Warbler that were of such good quality that I could crop them for even a little more close-up views than those I posted yesterday. I believe that the feathers that look somewhat silvery/gray (see on cheek and at margin of chest) are likely being molted off the bird. The lore feathers (described in Birds of North America online as 'tipped in black') are usual male plumage. It is amazing that these birds retain this very colorful plumage year round. SeEtta

The only pics I got of this male Hooded Warbler out in the open were when it was on the move, flying into a thicket of vegetation that was so dense that it just disappeared into it. In the top pic, the bird just landed very briefly. I got the bottom pic just before it disappeared in the thick undergrowth. SeEtta

Today I returned to Pueblo Mountain Park to look for the rare Hooded and Grace's Warblers that had been reported there but I had given little time or energy to find during the past visits while concentrating on the Acorn Woodpeckers. Well, I bombed on the Grace's Warbler, either too late in the morning to hear it singing (the only way I have found them before is by their singing) or they may no longer be singing. Also did not hear this male Hooded Warbler sing either but did hear it's loud 'chink' calls that gave it's general location away; however, I had to 'dig' it out of the thick undergrowth that is it's preferred habitat. Though the top two pics give some notion of how I had to take photos of this bird through the twigs and leaves, the bottom pic shows what I was often tracking in hopes of a clear shot. More pics to come. SeEtta

The top pic shows the nictiating membrane as it comes up over the Hooded Warbler's eye. The bottom pic, taken about 1 minute later, shows the nictitating membrane now covering the entire eye. SeEtta

This great little warbler would forage for awhile then stop to loaf, sometimes groom a little then sing. A couple of times he would fly in quite close to me as I stood as motionless as possible. SeEtta

I ran into some Boulder birders this morning who told me there was a singing Hooded Warbler and a singing Red-eyed Vireo at Temple Grove earlier today. I had not intended to bird Temple Grove today but this changed my plans (plus I had lost the Philadelphia Vireo I had been following at Lamar Woods in hopes of getting a pic of it). Due to a need to get my car tire repaired before venturing out of town I did not get to Temple Grove until noon. Within a few minutes I heard this Hooded Warbler singing and a little later was able to get these sweet pics of him. What a beaut. More pics coming. SeEtta