Birds and Nature

Curve-billed Thrashers can be found in several areas around Canon City, CO. This one was along Tunnel Drive Road at the far west end of town. As can be seen in the top pic, this area includes tree cholla which is the favored by this species in this area. I enjoy how Curve-billed Thrashers, when one does not intrude in the birds' space, will perch in place as though posing for photos. SeEtta

I photographed this Vesper Sparrow this week in Crowley County, Colo on the eastern plains in the company of several other Vesper Sparrows. It's rufous lesser coverts are visible, a feature rarely visible on perched birds. Visible field marks are darkly outlined cheek patch, distict white eye-ring, conspicuously streaked back. SeEtta

This owl mom is sitting on a nest in the Canon City, Colo area. SeEtta

I found this first-of-the-year shorebird working in a flooded field in Florence, Colo with some Canada Geese and a few ducks. SeEtta

I took this video clip yesterday (and it has taken me until today to get it in a format for uploading) of the possible hybrid Black X Eastern Phoebe that I posted about in my last posting. The song the bird sings is consistent with the primary song of the Black Phoebe and the calls it emits also sound like Black Phoebe calls. As it flies off I lose it briefly then get on it again. At the end it flies after it's apparent mate which seems likely the reason for the fluttering of it's wings in the display before it takes off. SeEtta

Here are two more pics of the intermediate plumaged phoebe that I took today. You can see the small hook at the tip of the phoebes bill, a characteristic of Black Phoebes but one that is seldom seen in the field. These pics enlarge nicely for super close ups by double-clicking on each one. SeEtta

I took these pics of an intermediate plumaged phoebe today in Fremont Co., Colo. As can be seen in these pics, this looks a lot like a Black Phoebe but there are white feathers invading the upper chest area that should be black outside of the 'V' of white from the belly. Also there are some white feathers under the chin. I have seen several probable hybrid Black-Eastern Phoebes in my county in the past and this is likely one. Also it was located at a nest site that was attended last year by an intermediate plumaged phoebe and an apparent Black Phoebe--and the nesting was successful. The top 2 pics enlarge nicely so double-click on them. SeEtta