Revealing the Hidden Beauty of Colorado
Loyal readers will be aware of the presence of an American White Pelican on the Arkansas River over the past month or two. – a bird I dubbed Pelican Pete. Recently I noticed Pete was gone from his usual perch on the Arkansas River and today I learned of his fate. He is now in the hands of the Raptor Center at the Nature and Wildlife Center and is receiving the care of experts. Check out this video report from KRDO TV in Colorado Springs.
Environment:Start Time: 8:35 AM Temperature: 39 degrees Sky: Sunshine with little breeze. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Gull, Canada Geese, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Flickers, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants, Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbird, American Kestrels, European Starlings, American Robins, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Blue Jay, Townsend’s SolitaireCritters: Tree Squirrel, Mule Deer Gear: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm Adults Only
Environment:Start Time: 3:30 PM Temperature: 58 degrees Sky: Sunshine with a strong breeze. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Canada Geese, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Flickers, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants, White-crowned Sparrows, Great Blue Heron, Yellow-rumped WarblersCritters: None Gear: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 9:15 AM Temperature: 40 degrees Sky: Sunshine with a little, yet unwelcome, breeze. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Gadwall, Canada Geese, Gulls, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, American Robin, European Starlings, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants, Cooper’s Hawk, Blue Jays, Sparrows, Crows, Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron, Swallows, Barn Swallow, Red-winged BlackbirdCritters: Tree Squirrel, Cabbage White Butterfly Gear: Nikon Panasonic Lumix GH4, 100-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 9:00 AM Temperature: 44 degrees Sky: Heavy cloud filtered sunshine with a little breeze. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, American White Pelican, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, American Robin, European Starlings, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants, Cooper’s Hawk, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jays, Mourning Dove, Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Turkey VultureCritters: Tree Squirrel Gear: Nikon Panasonic Lumix GH4, 100-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 8:55 AM Temperature: 43 degrees Sky: Cloud filtered sunshine with a little breeze. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Buffleheads, Canada Geese, American White Pelican, Osprey, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Flicker, American Robin, European Starlings, Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Double-crested Cormorants, KilldeerCritters: Mule Deer, Tree Squirrel, Crayfish Gear: Nikon Panasonic Lumix GH4, 100-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 9:10 AM Temperature: 54 degrees Sky: Sun and clouds. A very busy Saturday morning at Lake Pueblo State Park. Lots of fishermen, hikers, bikers and dogs. Plenty of birds too though they all seemed to me in a hurry to get somewhere else. Except for the subject of today’s featured image – our friend the American White Pelican. It was still positioned on its favorite rock in the Arkansas River but was actively stretching and flapping those huge wings as a greeting to the morning sunshine. Pictured below is another Red-tailed Hawk taking flight – I think this…
Environment:Start Time: 8:55 AM Temperature: 45 degrees Sky: Sun with light but biting breeze. Sightings:Birds: Mallards, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, Canada Geese, American White Pelican, Osprey, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Bewick’s Wren, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Robin, European StarlingsCritters: Mule Deer, Tree Squirrel Gear: Nikon Panasonic Lumix GH4, 100-300mm
Environment:Start Time: 9:35 AM Temperature: 45 degrees Sky: Sun and clouds with wind-like breeze. With hopes of beating the predicted high winds I headed out for a morning tour of the Rock Canyon Area of Lake Pueblo State Park. The temperature was decent and the fairly stiff breeze (wind preview) did not seem to add to the Spring chill in the air. What the breezy conditions did provide was quite a few Red-tailed hawks who were having a great time soaring and wheeling over the park. Today’s featured image is one of those hawks taking flight after a brief rest…
Environment:Start Time: 3:35 PM Temperature: 65 degrees Sky: More Sun than Clouds with light breeze. Spring’s first day turned out to be pretty mellow. The Arkansas River was literally swamped with fishermen and women whom I blame for the serious lack of waterfowl out floating around. There were very few ducks but about the same number of Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots as usual. Yes, the Pelican is still posted up on its favorite rock on the river. I was surprised to see a Double-crested Cormorant circling high up in the sky. Certainly a sign of Spring. Today’s featured image…