Birds and Nature

This pic was nice at showing the the head of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon. Important field marks that can be seen in this pic are the blue cere and orbital skin--these change to yellow beginning in the winter of the bird's first year. Also the streaking on it's chest is a field mark for juvenile Peregrine's (while adults have spotting and barring). SeEtta

I believe it had field marks consistent with a juvenile "American" (F.p. anatum) Peregrine Falcon described in detail in Brian Wheeler's Raptors of Western North America (p. 474--not the 'lightly marked type'). Field marks consistent with this subspecies that are evident in these pics include: a 'wide type' malar mark that blends with it's dark cap; a dark forehead with a "narrow tawny patch"; nape is a mix of dark coloration and some pale patches; it has tawny auriculars; the ventral part of it's body is "rufous-tawny with moderately wiede dark brown streaking on the breast, belly and lower belly"; the flanks I could see well are streaked; the leg feathers are tawny with pretty wide markings (Wheeler says "streaking" but that isn't clear in my pics); the dorsal portion of the wings are dark brown and there are tawny colored edging on the coverts; the ventral portion of the remiges are dark with pretty wide rufous ...

Today while checking for late nesters on my Colo Breeding Bird Atlas block east of Florence,CO, I saw this juvenile Peregrine Falcon fly down the Arkansas River and into some adjacent cottonwood woodlands in pursuit of a meal. It apparently was unsuccessful and perched in a tree where I took some of these pics. While perched, the apparent resident Redtail Hawk flew nearby calling it's displeasure at this competition in it's hunting grounds. Though the Peregrine didn't leave, it was clearly paying attention as it moved it's head in a manner I have seen done by Great Horned Owls which was amusing when done by a falcon. The juvenile took off two more times and attempted to catch a bird but still unsuccesful. It's a hard life for juvenile raptors learning how to hunt. Most of these pics will enlarge for nice close-ups so just double click on each pic to really see the field marks well. SeEtta

On 8-4-09 I found these Black Phoebe fledglings near the MacKenzie Bridge over the Arkansas River on the east edge of Canon City, CO. Earlier this summer I found fledglings being fed by a parent right where I found these new fledglings. So it is most likely that the same set of parents renested and these are the offspring. I found at least 3 fledglings and possibly 4 but don't know if each of the pics is of a different or same bird. Each pic does show a characteristic of Black Phoebe fledglings. While the top pic is less than sharp, it does show the almost straight line between the black breast tne white belly, a characteristic that provides clues to the age of the bird as this line becomes more like the 'V' that is characteristic of adult Black Phoebes. In the second pic, you can see clearly that the tips of the tail feathers (rectrices) are not rounded like they are in adult birds. This pic also shows the darker black of Black Phoebes in juvenal plumage compared to ...

For the last 4 nights, I have enjoyed watching a bat spectacle east of Canon City. There were more than a hundred bats foraging over the small fishing pond at Pathfinder Park just west of Florence. The only times I have seen more than a few bats flying at one time is at Carlsbad Caverns and private bat caves in Texas so this has been most unique. Though not in large numbers, there were also bats foraging over a quiet section of the Arkansas River near there. I can personally vouch for the fact that there were plenty of mosquitoes for them to feast on. It is astonishing to watch them flying in such density as they appear to fly in an erratic manner (maybe due to chasing mosquitos and other insects?) which often requires fast flight corrections to avoid collisions with each other, and also with me on several occasions. I called our local Div of Wildlife biologist and she said this number of bats may indicate a nearby nursing colony. I had a heck of a time getting some reasonable ba...

Yesterday when I got to my friend's to walk my dogs, I was delighted to see that an Eastern Phoebe had flown in and perched less than 20 feet in front of me providing a great photo opportunity. These are pics of that bird, a juvenile (see cinnamon-ish wing coverts that make weak wing bars and buffy edges on tertials). The bird did have a slight yellowish wash on it's belly but it didn't come through in the pics (probably due to the light). These pics enlarge very nicely so double-click on each one for super close-up views. SeEtta

I was pleased to refind both of the two juvenile Black Phoebes that I first found at Pathfinder Park near Florence, CO at the beginning of July. They were foraging in the wetland area, sallying after insects within a foot or so of each other with limited indication of aggression (each had it's crest raised a few times and they did engage in a brief chase. Even after the apparent hostile chase, they both remained in this small wetland area though they foraged further apart. These pics are of each of the two juveniles. Though they clearly look alike, the bird in the bottom pic appeared to have rustier colored wing coverts that were more visibly contrasting. Notice the orangish/fleshish colored mouth lining still present on the top bird. SeEtta