The Second Annual Pike's Peak Birding & Nature Fetival

 

     This year the weather cooperated and the attendees were happy and excited to see what would be out there passing though on migration.  It all started with a mixer at Fountain Creek Nature Center where attendees got to meet and chat with the guides and staff and coordinate for the next day's trips.

 



 

 

     As you can see, the shirts this year really stand out and the artwork is really beautiful.  I personally think that the shirts are amazing this year.

 

 

     My first trip this year was down to Chico Basin Ranch with a group of 18 other excited birders.  We started the trip with a stop at the Hannover Fire Station and then moved on to the Banding Station where the staff and birds were very cooperative and helped us all work on our identification skills.

 

 

 

 

 

     Birds around the banding Station were plentiful and gave us a nice variety to start off the day.

 

 

 

 

  

 

     Later in the morning we headed farther south on the ranch to Rose's pond where some rare migrants were reported.  After a short drive and walk we were right in the area and rewarded with great looks at both the reported Yellow-throated and Black-throated Blue Warblers.  These were life birds for many in the group and a first time seeing them in America for me.

 

 

 

 

     After these exciting sightings we moved on to other areas of the ranch to see what else might be moving through.  All in all it was a great morning with over 60 species being seen. 

 

 

 

     My second trip this year was to Aiken Canyon off of HWY 115.  This was my first visit to the area and I was not disappointed. The weather was great and the scenery was fabulous.

 

 

 

     There were many different birds in the area and the hike to the top was really pretty.  The nice cool breeze made it very enjoyable and the birding kept us all motivated to make it over the top.



 

 

 

 



      Another great day of birding in a new area.  We also saw wild Turkey, Golden Eagles, several warbler species and lots more that I didn't get pictures of.  After such a great festival, I am already looking forward to next year's festival and all the great birds we will see.  Happy Birding!

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 





     





Annual Fountain Creek Nature Center Spring Bird Count

   It's windy, cold, with a chance of snow so it must be Spring on the Front Range and time for the Fountain Creek Nature Center Spring Bird Count.  Located at 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817, the nature center is just a short drive from all over town and a great place to bird year round.  You can find a local birder somewhere in the park almost every day of the year.

   We all me at the nature center at 07:00 and got our assigned areas and formed up our teams.  After some coffee and doughnuts it was time to hit the trails and find those birds.

 

   We had areas 3 and 4 to count so we moved out smartly and headed down the trail to see what we could see.  In no time at all we had a large amount of Red-winged Black birds and it was clear that some warblers were passing through.  Most of the warblers were busy finding food and gobbling up as much as they could. There seemed to be a lack of ducks and water foul but it was still a beautiful day and there were other birds to look at.  One treat was the Great-horned Owls and owlet just across the run off from the damn.  Here are some of the birds we saw in areas 3 and 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 Colorado Field Ornithologist Convention

CFO 2016:  Attending the 2016 Colorado Field Ornithologist convention in Lamar, Colorado.

   This year's convention was in Lamar, Colorado May 5-9.  The weather cooperated mostly, and attendance seemed to be better than ever.  There was over 225 birders attending this year's field trips, lectures and banquet.  As always, it was great to connect with friends from across the state that we don't often get the chance to bird with.  But before we could get to the convention, we had to make our way through some obstacles that got in our way.

   After finally getting through the local cattle drive, we were off to Karval Reservoir State Wildlife Area (SW), where we ran into another group heading south to the convention.  Having never been to Lamar, or any of the great birding spots in Prowers, Bent or Baca Counties, it was all new and enjoyable to me. We went on field trips to Two Buttes SWA, Van's Grove, Adobe Creek, Cheraw, Holbrook, Lake Hasty, Fort Lyon SWA, Bent's Old Fort and several locations highway 50 on the way home. 

   We arrived in Lamar on Thursday afternoon and after settling in the hotel room we wondered over to the welcome picnic to meet the other birders, trip leaders, eat dinner and see some local birds in the park.  While we were hanging out with some friends we saw several Mississippi Kites, Chimney Swifts, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Robins, Turkey Vultures and more.

   My personal list for the weekend was 124 confirmed species and a few more possibles.  That list included several Colorado firsts and a couple birds to add to my life list which include the Golden-winged Warbler and Snowy Plover. 

   Here are a few of the birds and locations I saw on the drive down and during the three days of field trips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Happy Birding