August in the Rockies

The new norm!  My camera won't allow tight zooms much anymore! So....

western wood peewee

At least there is an interesting background to this distant shot...and this was on the fence when I traveled through the valley, so they were close enough, shot through the windshield...

western kingbird and an a female Baltimore oriole birds of a feather don't always flock together...

black billed magpies if you wanna see the yellow billed magpie you gotta go to Southern CA, my sister said that would be the only "reason to go there"...lol she was kidding of course, but I think she was thinking of how hot it is there. 

certainly was not hot when we got up on a rainy morning...

I have enjoyed watching these juvenile ospreys.  

One day when I went one of them was exercising his wings...

and when I returned the next day he was gone...

I haven't been to check the nest since last week so I'm sure this one is in the air too by now...Did see another adult with this huge catch nearby...

this little pond is at the rest area I mentioned...

view to the east

and to the west...lots of habitat for insects too

a kingfisher flew over I snapped and this is the result....not a great look at one but he had his wings back in perfect formation...

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that was last week...Monday we went on a family picnic and a tube float in the Reservoir.  No Photos of that as I was in the water!  here is our site, what fun although we found a lot of mud at the put in area so next time we must find a mud-less put in, the swimming area is probably better but dogs not allowed in that section.  THE girls and Jimmy loved the swimming. Casey slept in the van while we played. 

Yesterday I drove up Castle Creek Road for a peek at what was there...found LOTS of awesome.

it's stunningly beautiful up there....I had planned to bird  at ACES, (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies) in downtown Aspen...omg Aspen has changed since the world found out how awesome it is...not my cup of tea any longer.  I recall us going to junk shops there in the 80's and finding street parking right outside the store NO MORE that was the good 'ole days.  So happy I found this awesome place of solace.  Once tourists find a place it is ruined forever, ie: Myrtle Beach. 

 since the Western Flycatcher was split I found  the Cordilleran Flycatcher.  It's counter part is the Pacific Slope Flycatcher. 

these violet green swallows enjoyed being on the ground 

finally got a decent look at the plumage on these birds, that's an immature bird on the right 

And here is the Rufous Crowned Sparrow.

the mammal of the day was this coyote, he had a lovely thick coat 

This is one extremely pretty spot...I was the only person up there that day...

today I went for a hike....next post the Grizzly Creek Trail, and more. 

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

South Padre Island

After my Big Day I was exhausted it lasted long into the night with trying to see the Elf Owl.  Now in real time I am home, I got back in time for mother's day and I hope to be able to get all the posts I want to put up about this Spring Trip posted as quick as I can while my memory is fresh.  So I hope y'all are in the mood.  This is really the last spot I hit strictly for birding.   From here on out it's just what ever bird comes across my path..(and that was LOTS) 

I have done a horrid job with trying to get my birds correctly Identified, my photo's correctly labeled, etc.  I have ID'd some wrong and I hope to eventually get it all corrected.  Trying to go through my Field Guild by lantern light in the van at night was just so not working...now I can do Internet searches etc and try to get them right and please correct me.  I also still use many of the old names for birds and try to find the "current" name if I know it has been changed some I have no clue it's been changed. I'm not just behind the times in one area I'm behind it in all areas. So bear with an old bird while she tries to enjoy her own little birding fantasies. 

By the time I got here, to South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, I was on my 3rd day in the Rio Grande Valley area I was exhausted dealing with the traffic.  Way too many people on the highways.  It is a beautiful place, they have done a wonderful job of creating a mighty fine place to bird.  It is highly accessible for anyone with mobility issues.  What seems like miles of boardwalk..

...gives great access to the water, the marsh and some of the trees.   But before you reach the boardwalk visit the feeders area where you can see the Baltimore Oriole

I wanted this to be an imm. streaked back oriole but I was told by some others it's an Immature Baltimore either way I've never seen one like this before...

 

I couldn't decide if this bird is a Veery or a Swainson's thrush so I'm going with Swainson's neither is a new to me bird. 

I'm including it because I love the softness of this photo and the bougainvillea in the background is just so colorful!  Hummers were present black chinned, ruby throated, buff bellied...and black bellied whistling ducks were in the water feature up front.  

  

I headed down the boardwalk after tying my hat on, this is NOT my hat..

This will make a good nest box for some bird!  I found along the boardwalk edges...what I believe is the King Rail .  

The largest of the rails, I did see but never got photos of the yellow rail, and the black rail over at McFaddin NWR nearby Sea Rim while there..the little black rail reminded me of a very small black chicken with huge feet!.  They are so small compared, yet this bird is not large.  Most of him disappeared into the grass.  

A Pectoral Sandpiper,  SO I assume its due to the pattern on the chest...I don't know why else this is so named...

with a photobombing dragonfly...

Lots of Common Gallinules or Moorhens strutting around on the marsh also.

 

 

the legs match the face...and here is a White Ibis love the bubble gum pink beak and legs. 

Other waders seen were the Reddish Egret he is always running around like he just smoked something kinky...lol 

Also around were the Roseate Spoonbills with their brilliant pink shoulders and spoonbills.

next is a  preening Tri-colored Heron with his big eye...

I think this boardwalk is one of the Convention Center's this awesome spot is shared by 2 public access places.  I drove over to the convention center...right next door

Painted by artist Wyland in 1994

(the Orca Room) where you can walk on their boardwalks and watch the warblers and song birds enjoy the water and seed. 

Here we have male Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, male and female Blue Grosbeaks, and one Dicksissel in the middle background. 

a Nashville Warbler in the water...

with a female Rose Breasted Grosbeak, an immature Orchard Oriole, and a Blue Grosbeak

A beautiful Indigo Bunting, 

right on the boardwalk the always pumping of that tail, the Louisiana Waterthrush.  

One of my favorite Photo Opts of the day was getting this Scarlet Tanager. 

In almost a clear shot...with only one hand while I answered a mobile phone call with the other don't tell me I can not multitask! 

I wanted to go around again, but I had decided to leave the Lower Rio Grande area for cooler clims, so I had me some driving to do....I had big plans to go to Brownsville and Sabal Palms but put that on the back burner for a maybe trip to Mexico, Que Bueno?? 

So I made myself some lunch and watched the song birds fly in and out of the trees then headed back over the long bridge to the mainland...but on the way I spotted this..

as big as life Kong, along with this long necked dino...

and some very colorful and realistic coral reefs!

Oh Watch OUT doo  do, doo do

I think we def will need a Bigger Boat!!

 ebird list here:

Next stop on my Tour of Texas is Falcon Lake State Park!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.