Adventures in Nature

Again this year I’ll be leading a series of bird walks; Birding The Big Thompson – here in Loveland, CO.

All walks are free, please bring a friend, dress for the weather and let’s have fun! We’ll probably be out 2-4 hours depending on how birdy it is.

After each walk those that want to will be meeting at The Coffee Tree 422 E 4th street for a cup and a chat.

Here is the planned schedule, walks typically on the 3rd Saturday.

March 24th, 8:00 a.m. Big Thompson Ponds
April 21st, 8:00 a.m. Simpson Ponds – off County Road 9E
May 19th, 7:30 a.m. Meet at Railroad Dr/Fairgrounds park – bird east to 287.
June 16th, 7:00 a.m. Meet at Railroad Dr/Fairgrounds park – bird west to 1st Street.
July 21st, 7:00 a.m. Meet at the 1st Street parking lot by the hockey rink, bird west to Wilson.
August 18th, 7:00 a.m. Meet at Namaqua Park, bird the park and nearby areas – picnic at the park?
September 15th, 7:30 a.m. Meet and bird at Morey Wildlife Reserve.
October 20th, 8:00 a.m. Meet and bird at Vienstenz-Smith Park.

This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count weekend. I took a trip over to Lon Hagler State Wildlife Area to count birds. I was met by this lovely juvenile Bald Eagle who lost his balance while preening.

What a stunning bird! Winter is a great time to see Bald Eagles in and around Loveland. Get out there and take a look.

I recently took a trip out to Pawnee National Grasslands. I love to visit the Grasslands at all times of the year. In winter, I typically look for the big birds – Eagles, Hawks and Owls specifically. It was a partly cloudy day with little wind. Perfect.  My first stop is an area that has many large Juniper trees – a cozy spot just what wintering Long-eared Owls need.  After a little searching, I found one. But she was just too skittish and the only photos I was able to get were her flying away or deep in the brush.

Can you see her in there?

I decided to not try too much to photograph the bird any better. In winter it takes precious resources for a bird to keep having to fly away.

From then on, I cruised up and down and across the different prairie roads, keeping mostly north of Crow Valley. I did venture up onto Crow Hill and was surprised and delighted by this great immature Golden Eagle flying right at me.

What a magnificent bird!

I came upon an old homestead. All that was left was fencing, this old chimney and the surrounding trees, one which sported a lovely Townsend’s Solitaire.

And let’s not forget this little, lovely herd of Pronghorn Antelope.

While most of the roads, even the lesser used roads were dry and in great shape, there was a few places one needed to use caution. When I go prairie roaming, (or mountain exploring) I always have chains and a shovel in my car. (I drive a Nissan Xterra). I needed the shovel. Thankfully, I was able to dig out enough for me to get a good rocking going on and backed out of the trouble spot and kept going. I was amazed at how hard, crusty and DEEP that snow was.

I finished my day up cruising home on CR 90 and spotted this lovely Rough-legged Hawk, a rare bird in Colorado in the winter.

A fine looking Hawk and wonderful finish to the adventurous day.

Arizona? Yeppers. December 28th, my sister Lauren and I are departing for a week long adventure of birding in Southeast Arizona. We can hardly wait! Our husbands will be holding the home fort down while we’re gone. We’ve got a full itinerary:

Wed, Dec 28, depart drive to Socorro, NM.
Thurs, Dec 29, Bird Bosque del Apache – Celebrating Lauren’s fifty—–something birthday! Then drive to Tucson.
Friday, Dec 30, Bird all around Tucson, stay the night in Madera Canyon’s Santa Rita Lodge
Saturday, Dec 31, Bird Madera Canyon area – stay the night in Patagonia, AZ.
Sunday, Jan 1, Bird Patagonia, Patagonia Lake State Park and vicinity – drive all the way to Portal, stay at Cave Creek Ranch.
Monday, Jan 2, Bird Portal area, then drive to Santa Fe, weather permitting, try to visit Sandia Crest House.

Whew! Lots of driving, lots of birds!

Stay connected – I’ll be posting fun pictures and commentary of our trip.

The other day I was out in the yard cleaning up after the snow began to melt. I had been hearing Blue Jays screeching, but it took awhile for it to really penetrate my brain that they weren’t stopping, but getting louder and more localized. I looked up in my neighbors spruce tree and saw about a half a dozen Jays there. I ran inside to grab my camera and went over to the spruce, stuck my head in at least 3 different spots around the tree, looking up to see what was causing the jays dismay. Nothing.. until I stepped back from the tree and looked up. A large, disgruntled Great-horned Owl stared back at me.

The Jays were satisfied somebody knew. They left.

Are you ready for some bird watching?

My November bird walk in Loveland is going to be at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch.

We will meet at the Hilltop parking lot – across the river and up the hill on the right – at 8:30 a.m. (If you need more directions, please google Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch) We will split into two or three groups, each with a leader, depending on how many people we have. After a couple hour bird walk, we will meet back at the Hilltop for a campfire, visiting, and hot chocolate or cider.

I am not limiting the number of people, but I AM requiring you sign up ahead of time. There will be a $12 fee per person for this event, which all goes to the Ranch. Help support a local family business!  You will also have to fill out the normal ranch liability waiver.

Come join us! We have FUN!

Please pass the word and bring a friend.

Remember you MUST RSVP for this walk.

My husband Al and I recently celebrated our 15th anniversary. We chose to spend it in Ouray, which we lived near before moving to Loveland.

One thing we did which was new to us both was to take a jeep tour with San Juan Jeep tours. They have an exclusive tour to the top of Red Mountain 3.

I’m sure some of you have heard of the infamous Red Mountain Pass. Well this is higher than that. 1,791′ higher in fact. Red Mountain 3 is about 12, 890′ high. And we drove/rode up there. Wow! What a ride.

Nothing like hanging out of a truck/jeep with one side of a mountain on the left that you can practically touch and the other side so far away you can’t even see it.

Refreshing.

We had fantastic weather and a great guide. We were on mountainsides so steep I wondered how we managed it. But it was a blast!

Awesome, awesome, awesome.  So next summer, get to Ouray (youRAY), take a jeep tour, soak in the hot springs and eat great food.

Have you ever been to the tundra? A bit over an hour away is some incredible back country  – the tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park.

I like to go there and walk around enjoying the rare oxygen, stunning views and if I’m really lucky these beauties.

White-tailed Ptarmigan live about as high as a creature can. These I found a little over a week ago and are well on their way to their winter plumage – which is solid white. As carefully as I was watching for them, I almost stepped on one! If you get a chance, whether this fall or next summer. Take a walk on the wild side and see if you can find these great birds.

Crazy about birds or just curious?  Want to learn more about birding close to home?  Everyone is invited to a FREE weekend of fun and learning for the entire family during the 7th Annual Northern Colorado Birding Fair, Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24.  The theme of this year’s birding fair is, “Birding in your Backyard.”  The weekend will feature birding field trips on Friday, September 23 and fair festivities on Saturday, September 24.  You can also help out with a service project in celebration of National Public Lands Day. Details will be announced at http://www.larimer.org/naturalresources/birding_fair.htm

Schedule of Events:

Birding Behind the Scenes at Soapstone Prairie

Friday, September 23, 2011, 7 a.m.- 1 p.m., transportation from Fort Collins provided. City of Fort Collins Biologist Aran Meyer and Educator Sue Kenney will take you to some areas closed to the public for some birding and share information about the internationally renowned Lindenmeier early man site.  Free, registration required, call 970-416-2815 or email naturalareas@fcgov.com .

Northern Colorado Birding Fair

Saturday, September 24 at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space

Guided bird walks at 7 a.m. & 7:15 a.m., hands-on activity booths, silent auction and vendors 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Raptor releases throughout the day

Hourly presentations at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Interactive Clinics at 10 a.m., 12 noon

Details at http://www.larimer.org/naturalresources/birding_fair.htm

National Public Lands Day Service Project

Saturday September 24, after 2 p.m.  Celebrate your public lands by volunteering!  Sponsored by REI- details will be announced at www.rei.com/fortcollins

More About the Northern Colorado Birding Fair, Saturday September 24, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

No matter what tickles your fancy, birders young and old, beginner to experienced, will find something at the Birding Fair to fit the bill.  Don’t miss the visit from Dr. Avian Guano (one of the wacky alter egos of famous naturalist Denny Olson) who will entertain and delight audiences of all ages with his theatrical and educational comedy.  Other presentations are focused on wildlife and habitat gardening, so you can learn how to draw in local birds to watch from your windows, or use items from your garden to make bird houses.  You can even test your skills mimicking bird calls at several Bird Call Contests (kids to experts welcome!), led by the hilarious Dr. Guano (who can make over 100 bird calls himself!).

Visitors will also enjoy interactive booths, guided bird walks, a silent auction, a self-guided scavenger hunt, vendors showcasing birding equipment, and rehabilitated raptor releases. There will be food and drink available courtesy of the Larimer County Friend’s Group, and the Berthoud Lion’s Club.  Prizes will be available for children 12 years of age or under who complete their Birding Fair Passport.

Did you say free?  Entry to the Northern Colorado Birding Fair is free for all thanks to sponsorships and local vendors who participate, including this year’s presenting sponsor, Poudre Pet and Feed Supply.  To help keep the event free, donations from the visiting public will also be accepted.

Directions and more information:  The Northern Colorado Birding Fair is at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, on Carpenter Road, 1-mile west of the I-25/Hwy 392 Windsor exit.  Contact Rob Novak at Larimer County Department of Natural Resources for more information, 970-679-4561 or rnovak@larimer.org. For a full schedule of events visit http://www.larimer.org/naturalresources/birding_fair.htm.

We recently went camping again at Tunnel Campground on Laramie River Road off of Highway 14.

This was our second annual trip and I think we’ve started a tradition.

So has she.

Who’s she?

She is a Magnificent Hummingbird. Extremely rare in Colorado. We saw here there for the first time last year.

And she showed up again!

Take a good look at these photos. There is no mistaking her. She is gigantic.

Have you camped at Tunnel? Have you seen her?