Birds and Nature

This morning I spotted an unusual looking hawk mostly hidden behind tree limbs on the Canon City Riverwalk. When I would get closer to get a better view (closer is relative, always at least 150-200 feet away) it would flush but instead of flying off as Red-tailed Hawks generally do it flew further down the forest to another perch. In my binoculars I could see the distinct whitish supercillium and the bright yellow lores plus unusual looking markings on underparts (binocular view not as close-up as these photos as these are strongly cropped to enlarge the bird). Photos show additional field marks for sub-adult Broad-winged Hawk: distinct dark malar stripe; light auricular area (should be a little darker than supercilium but bird was too distant to pick up that subtlety of coloration); brown tail with several dark bands and a wider dark subterminal band; secondaries and greater coverts are darkish brown; primaries a panel paler than color of secondaries; dark markings on belly...

This female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was foraging not far from the male I found yesterday on the Canon City Riverwalk. SeEtta

Couldn't get the great photos that those who have Rose-breasted Grosbeak coming to their feeders have gotten but this guy was 60-80 foot up in the top of a large cottonwood tree yesterday. As can be seen somewhat in these photos, he is eating the new and tender buds coming out on this tree. A female was also in the area eating new buds on the trees. SeEtta

I found this White-throated Sparrow earlier this week on the Canon City Riverwalk then refound it yesterday a few hundred feet west of first location. But it stayed in the middle of the messy vegetation--limbs, twigs, leaves, grass and vines--so not able to even try to get a pic. Today I refound it again and got this one shot of it about 30 feet away surrounded by lots of vegetation but a quick clear view. While not a great pic it does show field marks of yellow supraloral spot, well delineated white throat, dark bill, black and white head stripes. SeEtta

This has been a good spring for Northern Waterthrush here. I found my first today when I opened my car door and started to put on my binoculars--spotted one less than 15 feet away in a small tree then 2 more in the next 10 minutes on the Canon City Riverwalk. I found the one in this photo about 2 miles further east on the Riverwalk. About time I got some good pics of one. SeEtta

I found this Black-and-white Warbler on the Canon City Riverwalk this morning. There are usually only 1 or 2 reported in and around Canon City most years. This has grayish ear coverts and lores so is a female. Since it has a lot of buffy wash on it's underrparts I suspect it is a first year female. SeEtta

There haven't been as many White-faced Ibis this year as usual but we still have one fairly large flock of over a hundred still around. I got this photo of a part of that flock as they flew around a field.  Click on the pic to enlarge to see the unique bills on these birds.  SeEtta