Birds and Nature

I got these pics this morning. The TRICOLORED HERON has continued to be seen daily at Holcim Wetlands. I usually see it actively foraging as shown in the bottom pic. SeEtta

This Tricolored Heron was seen yesterday at Holcim Wetlands after an absence of about a week. Interestingly a Tricolored Heron was seen 8 days ago about 125 east at Lake Hasty after the one I found at Holcim had not been seen for 5 days (last seen 6-17, one found at Lake Hasty on 6-22). Since Tricolored Herons are very rare in Colorado it seems most likely that the bird I photographed at Holcim today is the same one I found there on 6-14-13. The question is this the same bird that was at Lake Hasty--did it fly down there and return to Holcim??? SeEtta

The TRICOLORED HERON I found 2 days ago at Holcim Wetlands east of Florence,CO continues at that location. It has been staying further from view near a section that is closed for nesting season since the evening of the first day I found it. I suspect it has felt disturbed and has found this location more to it's liking since now that the big push of fishing is over there are fewer who trespass the closed trail that is signed as closed. It does not provide the great views I and several more birders got that first day but it can be viewed and field marks are evident. SeEtta

This morning I found this adult TRICOLORED HERON at Holcim Wetlands about 25 miles east of Canon City. This species is a rarity here in Colorado. It was foraging actively in the shallow water. I also found a Green Heron and 3 Black-crowned Night-Herons this morning at this very productive wetlands that were created from an abandoned gravel pit that was likely in one of the old channels of the nearby Arkansas River. SeEtta

This very short video clip is a little difficult as the Tricolored Heron is behind tall cattails and the video camera does not always focus well as it moves quickly about but it provides a view of how the heron engages in 'dart' feeding. It is probably best to run it at least 2 times to see the heron as it is moving rapidly through most of the clip and the picture shakes as I have difficulty holding the camcorder totally still when I have it extended to it's full 40X optical zoom. At the end the heron is standing still behind the cattails. SeEtta

This video clip shows the Tricolored Heron as it does some fishing along the edge of the cattail marsh. SeEtta

This Tricolored Heron was found yesterday by local area birder Rich, at the Holcim Wetlands in eastern Fremont County, CO. Probably a first for the county, it is also a rarity throughout Colorado. When I arrived the sun was shining and only starting to get cloudy when I got the top pic. I sat and watched the heron for about 10 minutes and by the time I got the bottom pic it had started to rain so that pic is not as bright and sharp as the top pic (demonstrates the difference that light makes). However it does show it's distinctive white belly. I enjoyed watching this heron make several 'dash' moves to go quickly after prey--a very fast effort I might add. Though I was enjoying observing this heron feed, I took off shortly after this pic as it started thundering. SeEtta