Spring Birding: Round 3
Last week, I enjoyed several bird outings and met with so many wonderful people. On Tuesday, I joined the Tuesday Birders at Prospect Park. We saw 32 species of birds, including a Great Horned Owl nest with very young babies. It was also a treat to see a Hairy Woodpecker up close.
On Thursday, I joined Denver Audubon for a walk at Roxborough State Park. This picturesque park is perfect for birding and unique views. I got 2 lifers on this walk, including hearing the amazing song of the Canyon Wren and watching White-throated Swifts zoom around the cliffs. We also got to see Blue, Steller’s, and Woodhouse’s Scrub Jays all in the same tree! After the walk at Roxborough, I stopped at Platte Canyon Reservoir and got to see a rare-for-Colorado bird, a pair of Eastern Phoebes!
Then on Saturday, we had a beautiful, 80 degree day full of sunshine and blue skies! I spent the morning volunteering with Denver Audubon at their Kingery Nature Center at the south end of Chatfield State Park. On the weekends, you can find volunteers greeting visitors in the morning hours. If you are ever there on a Saturday or Sunday, be sure to stop by and say hi and maybe I’ll see you there! It was a prolific morning of sightings from the volunteer table, with an amazing 42 species!
After my volunteer shift, I met with Autumn, Lucy, and Don to explore the Bear Creek Greenbelt in Lakewood. We enjoyed looks at over 25 species of birds, including active Great-horned Owl babies, a swimming northern water snake, and a quick glimpse of a bushy-tailed wood rat! The sun was abundant, but the animals were busier than ever!
Please enjoy some images and video from the exciting week!
Bushtit (male) gathering nesting material
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Great-horned owl with young
Another view of the owl nest
Black-capped Chicakdees excavating a nest
Gadwall (male)
Hairy Woodpecker (male)
Green-winged Teal pair
Cedar Waxwings
Mourning Dove (left) on nest with Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin with nesting material
European Starling with nesting material
Cooper's Hawk flyover
Cooper's Hawk flyover 2
Woodhouse's Scrub Jay
Woodhouse's Scrub Jay with the beautiful red rocks at Roxborough State Park
Say's Phoebe with the Rocks at Roxborough
Northern Flicker (male) preening
Cooper's Hawk
Mule Deer at Roxborough
Nest in the cliff side at Roxborough - can you see the eggs?
Spotted Towhee
American Goldfinch (male)
Say's Phoebe
Bushtit (male)
American Goldfinch (male)
Osprey with nesting material
Osprey
Barn Swallow pair
Canada Goose
Northern Water Snake swimming!
The snake finally got to a resting spot
More Great-Horned Owls!
Baby owl!
Handsome American Robin
Video 1 - Eastern Phoebe
Video 2 - Northern Water Snake swimming
Video 3 - Great-Horned Owlette