A Nostalgic Sound

On my catch to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, the refuge seemed a chip subdued; piece thunderstorms rumbled to its south, the floodplain save received simply a few passing showers.  Beneath the low, grayness overcast, the birds carried on amongst their morn routines simply were relatively quiet, peculiarly for early on May.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pregnant exception was the calling of northern bobwhites, manifestly proclaiming their territorial rights.

During my pre-teen years, when I lived inwards the northeastern suburbs of Cincinnati, my friends as well as I spent much of our fourth dimension exploring the nearby fields as well as woodlands (see Wonderland).  On those excursions, I became real familiar amongst the telephone yell upwardly of the bobwhite as well as nosotros would occasionally even those eastern quail equally nosotros tramped across abandoned farmlands.

Now, to a greater extent than or less lx years later, that audio is non nearly equally mutual inwards the Central as well as Eastern the U.S. of A. since agriculture as well as suburban "development" convey destroyed much of the quail habitat.  Nevertheless, their distinctive telephone yell upwardly has a nostalgic ring, taking me dorsum to those carefree days of tree forts as well as outdoor adventure.

Invasion Of Violet-Green Swallows

On this cool, cloudy morn along the Colorado Front Range, large flocks of violet-green swallows swirled higher upwardly the South Platte, strafing the river together with following ponds for insects.  Just equally many perched on nearby ability lines, resting inward the chilly drizzle.

Having wintered inward United Mexican US or Central America, these aerialists normally buy the farm inward in belatedly Apr or May, resting together with feeding on the Piedmont before heading into the foothills together with mountains.  There they volition nest inward tree cavities or stone crevices together with feast on a multifariousness of flight insects.  Throughout the summer, they are oft observed inward foothill canyons, feeding amongst white-throated swifts.

Damp, chilly weather forcefulness swallows to congregate along together with higher upwardly rivers or lakes, where their prey hovers over the relatively warm water.  I encountered most 850 violet-green swallows along a 1.5 mile stretch of the river this morning, joined yesteryear much smaller numbers of cliff, barn, tree together with rough-winged swallows which arrived before together with accept already dispersed along the Front Range. 

Macgillivray's Warbler

On my stroll through South Platte Park this morning, I was fortunate to come across a MacGillivray's warbler.  Not easily observed, this migrant favors riparian thickets on its agency from United Mexican States in addition to Central America to breeding grounds inwards the Western Mountains in addition to Pacific Northwest.  Indeed, I industrial plant life this morning's visitor inwards shrubs along the South Platte River in addition to would convey missed him altogether if I hadn't noticed stimulate of the foliage.

MacGillivray's warblers too nest inwards streamside thickets or dense understory, favoring novel increment woodlands; hither inwards Colorado, they are best industrial plant life betwixt elevations of 8500 in addition to 10,000 feet during the summertime months.  Like virtually warblers, they are insectivores, gleaning prey from the vegetation or straight from the ground.

Once considered to survive a subspecies of the mourning warbler, which breeds inwards Canada in addition to migrates through the cardinal in addition to eastern U.S., the birds are straight off classified every bit distinct species.  Regardless of his classification, today's visitor is probable to survive 1 of the in conclusion boundary migrants to boot the bucket through the Front Range urban corridor this year.

A Nervous Assassin

Late this morning, I looked out of our kitchen window together with noticed an immature Cooper's hawk inwards the side yard, seemingly lounging inwards the sunshine.  Within a few seconds, however, he began to repeatedly hop into the air, twisting close equally if performing a ceremonial dance.

Grabbing my binoculars, I focused inwards on the ritual together with observed the tail feathers of a songbird poking from the grass; from what picayune I saw, I suspect it was a family finch.  Interrupting his dance, the hawk would curl the carcass to ane side or the other together with and then resume his antics.  Finally, later 5 minutes or so, he took the victim to a grove of pinon pines where he settled on the terra firma for a fleck earlier ascending to a limb to pluck his meal.

Large adult Cooper's hawks (especially females) oftentimes pluck together with eat their victim at the site of the kill, unconcerned that crows or other scavengers mightiness plough up.  Smaller birds (males together with immatures) prefer a secluded place to bask their repast inwards peace, oftentimes taking it into a nearby tree.  I'm non certain how to translate today's display; mayhap the immature hawk was simply excited to accept made a kill but he had the expect of a nervous assassin.

Waiting On The Tanagers

Since purchasing our Littleton, Colorado, farm almost iii decades ago, western tanagers accept never failed to catch the holding inwards mid May.  Indeed the appearance of those colorful migrants is 1 of the highlights of nature's year.  So where are the buggers this spring?

Summer residents of the upper foothills as well as lower mount forests, western tanagers wintertime inwards the Tropics.  They are primarily insectivores, gleaning their prey from leafage or flycatching from the pinnacle of trees; tanagers equally good eat berries as well as oftentimes invade our mulberry trees if the fruit has ripened when they visit.

Well, nosotros accept enough of insects as well as the mulberries are or then beingness edible simply the tanagers accept non withal arrived.  We birders pride ourselves inwards knowing a proficient bargain most the demeanor as well as migration patterns of our quarry simply nature is fickle as well as the birds are non hither to entertain us.  Our farm is for certain an attractive balance goal for the migrating tanagers simply then are many other locations along the Front Range.  If I were non leaving town inwards 2 days, I'd in all probability survive to a greater extent than patient.

Exploring The Swiss Plateau

Today, I made a circuit across the Swiss Plateau using the country's fine develop network; shine as well as efficient, the trains render an fantabulous way to explore the landscape.  The Plateau region, nestled betwixt the Alps as well as the Jura mountains, is characterized primarily yesteryear rolling farmlands (dairy cattle as well as sheep predominate), dotted alongside lakes as well as scenic towns.

As a birder, I was pleased to run across a large disclose of dark kites as well as cherry-red kites on my journey, joined yesteryear a one-half dozen white storks.  Though I passed through Lausanne as well as Bern, my principal halt was at Neuchatel, at the base of operations of the Jura Mountains as well as on the due north shore of Lac de Neuchatel.  H5N1 catch to the splendid lakeside commons turned upward several to a greater extent than European birds (red-crested pochards, chaffinches as well as dark redstarts, to advert a few) as well as offered a spectacular sentiment of the Alps to the south.

On my in conclusion leg of the journey, I constitute that vineyards are abundant along the base of operations of the Jura Mountains, sure enough a reflection of the regional climate as well as the limestone geology.  I'll produce my best to back upward their products during my rest inwards Switzerland! 

Born In I Trial To A Greater Extent Than Birder

Veteran birders who all of a abrupt honour themselves inwards a novel surroundings re-experience the excitement of their early on birding days, when close every sighting was a novel species.  Such has been my experience hither inwards Switzerland where, aside from identify sparrows, European starlings, herring gulls in addition to Eurasian collared doves, most birds convey been "lifers" when commencement encountered.  Even the crows, known hither equally carrion crows, convey a unique appearance in addition to call.

I convey mentioned a let on of the novel species inwards previous posts (red kites, dark kites, white storks, chaffinches in addition to dark redstarts, to shout out a few) in addition to I came across black-headed gulls,  2 cracking crested grebes in addition to a few European coot on Lake Geneva the other day.  H5N1 grayness heron flew over our hotel final even out (looking really much similar a cracking bluish heron) in addition to bluish tits (blue in addition to yellowish chickadees) convey been foraging unopen to the complex since our arrival; other local sightings convey included European magpies, forest pigeons in addition to dark swifts.  H5N1 walk to a nearby greenbelt this morning time turned upwards colorful European goldfinches and, to my surprise, a European dipper.  I'm certain many to a greater extent than species volition endure added when nosotros move through the Alps.

Of course, nosotros veteran birders convey an wages over novel birders since nosotros are already familiar amongst the diverse avian families in addition to tin speedily narrow downwards our search inwards a regional plain guide.  But the thrill is however at that spot in addition to I'm feeling similar a born 1 time again birder!

A Bird's-Eye Stance Of Eagle Bluffs

Returning to Colorado this morning, I flew out of Columbia Regional Airport, inwards key Missouri.  The plane took off to the due south as well as and therefore banked westward, crossing the Missouri River simply due south of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.

Fortunately, I had a window spot on the correct side of the aircraft as well as was treated to a fabulous thought of that floodplain preserve, my favorite birding place inwards the Midwest (see Ding Darling of the Midwest).  While I convey oftentimes explored its many pools, channels, marshes as well as woodlands at the world level, I convey never observed them from above.

Indeed, I realized that my perspective matched that of migrant waterfowl, pelicans, cormorants as well as shorebirds equally they brand it from the due south each spring.  Though H2O levels are currently depression across the floodplain, the number of an ongoing drought, it was obvious why this refuge is a magnet for those migrants equally they go upwardly the Missouri Valley, on their means to northern breeding grounds.

Death On The River

Due to the hot, dry out weather condition (and primarily due to reduced H2O liberate from upstream reservoirs), the South Platte River was real depression this morning, attracting a multifariousness of waders in addition to shorebirds; amid these were groovy blueish herons, snowy egrets, black-crowned dark herons, killdeer in addition to spotted sandpipers.

While focusing inward on 1 of the groovy blues, I watched equally he of a abrupt jabbed into the tall riverside grass in addition to turned dorsum amongst a small-scale mammal inward his formidable bill; likewise large to hold upward a plain mouse, I suspect it was a meadow vole or a immature muskrat.  After dipping it the river to moisten the fur, the heron tilted his mouth skyward in addition to swallowed the victim inward a unmarried gulp; he in addition to thence resumed stalking the shallows for his side yesteryear side snack.

Though nosotros ofttimes sentry herons in addition to egrets inward wetlands in addition to along shorelines, feasting on small-scale fish or aquatic invertebrates, nosotros are undisturbed yesteryear their natural activity.  But when a large heron grabs a small-scale mammal in addition to swallows it whole, nosotros understand amongst the victim, a brute that, similar us, must accept about feel of what is happening.  We easily imagine the nature of its gruesome piece of job in addition to may fifty-fifty resent the heron's unfazed response.  Nature, on the other hand, is oblivious; she is neither judgmental nor sympathetic.

Fall Migration Begins

I suspect nigh avid birders are to the lowest degree enamored amongst summer.  Summer residents as well as permanent residents, good known to the local birders, convey settled inward for the flavor as well as are relatively inactive inward the summertime heat; rare vagrants, the fuel for avid birders, are all only unheard of during the summertime months.  We naturalists unremarkably plough our attending to insects, amphibians, reptiles as well as summertime wildflowers.

But the autumn migration genuinely begins inward mid-summer every bit the start moving ridge of shorebirds arrives from Arctic breeding grounds, on their agency to southern beaches or wetlands.  En route, they halt to residue as well as feed on mudflats that business our lakes as well as reservoirs or inward the flooded fields that thunderstorms operate out inward their wake.

The earliest migrants unremarkably brand it past times early-mid July as well as the exceed of the "fall shorebird migration" mostly occurs from August through September; piece of cake migrants (e.g. dunlins) may nevertheless last observed across the Heartland inward early on November.  Providing around consolation for bored summertime birders, the migrant shorebirds besides offering promise that the oppressive summertime days are numbered as well as volition eventually hand agency to the glorious flavor of autumn.

A Golden Morning

On this cool, breezy morning, I took a walk along the South Platte River earlier summertime estrus enveloped the Front Range.  Once again, depression H2O attracted a diverseness of herons in addition to egrets to the river shallows field cormorants fished inwards the deeper pools in addition to a host of swallows strafed the H2O surface for insects.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 solid unit of measurement of belted kingfishers lounged along a beaver pond in addition to black-billed magpies were peculiarly noisy in addition to abundant.  But the highlight of my walk was the presence of a golden eagle, perched inwards a tree along the river.

Not close equally mutual equally bald eagles in addition to ospreys along this stretch of the South Platte, golden eagles are to a greater extent than oftentimes observed inwards foothill canyons or close buttes in addition to mesas on the High Plains where they nest on stone ledges.  Nevertheless, they may survive encountered inwards rural areas of the Colorado Piedmont, hunting for prairie dogs, soil squirrels in addition to rabbits; these powerful raptors are also known to kill grouse, wild turkeys, fox, fawns in addition to immature pronghorns on occasion.  Unlike bald eagles, they produce non typically feed on carrion though they sometimes feast on dead deer or elk during the colder months.

Residents of the Northern Continents, golden eagles are primarily flora inwards the Western U.S.A. exactly may wander to the Eastern States inwards winter.  This morning's visitor, field far from rare, was an unexpected treat, peculiarly during the birding doldrums of summer.  

An Avian Weathervane

Following a blessedly cool hateful solar daytime amongst intermittent showers, brilliant sunshine has returned to the Colorado Front Range.  Though a high most xc degrees F is officially expected, the air current has non withal shifted to the southward in addition to its northeasterly administration is producing an upslope menstruation that has a mild cooling termination along the urban corridor.

As if to emphasize that fact, a Swainson's hawk soared inwards a higher house our Littleton farm this afternoon, stopping at times to hover into the northeast breeze.  Though relatively high inwards the clear bluish sky, this raptor's groovy eyesight allows him to alternative out prey (small mammals, songbirds, large insects) most the ground, toward which he powerfulness brand a precipitous "stoop."  Today's visitor seemed to endure to a greater extent than interested inwards cavorting overhead, perchance enjoying the cool recess equally much equally the summer-weary humans far below.

Then again, Swainson's hawks create non stick around for our crisp spill weather, oftentimes circling toward Argentine Republic past times September.  There they pass the Southern summer, non to supply to Colorado until belatedly April.

Return To Sandy Lake

We accept returned to my wife's identify unit of measurement cottage on Sandy Lake this week.  H5N1 moderate-sized kettle lake inwards the glaciated Appalachian Plateau of northeast Ohio, it is e'er a pleasant retreat inwards summer, offering cooler air as well as a reliable breeze.

While our grandsons relish the gamble to fish, swim as well as kayak, I am content to wander unopen to the lake or sit down on our lakeside deck, enjoying the escape from urban congestion.  Ospreys, herons, cormorants as well as gulls are regular visitors as well as a large colony of regal martins reside inwards apartments along the shore.  H5N1 woman soul mallard as well as her attentive brood accept been plying the opened upward waters, oblivious of snapping turtles that cruise below the surface.

The small-scale humidity is a welcome alter from the Front Range climate as well as a few heavy downpours accept broken the local drought.  More thunderstorms are forecast for after today exactly close of the calendar week should convey pleasant conditions.  Any odd observations volition sure as shooting live on reported exactly I anticipate a relaxing as well as relatively blog-free visit.

A Killing At The Party

This afternoon, unopen to of our identify unit of measurement members as well as unopen relatives gathered for tiffin at the Sandy Lake cottage.  Since it was a beautiful twenty-four hours amongst partly cloudy skies as well as mild conditions, nosotros chose to political party on the deck which offers a wide thought of the lake.

Soon later completing our repast (though non our drinks!) our attending was drawn to the beach yesteryear loud shrieking as well as a frantic flock of regal martins exploded from their story complex.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Cooper's hawk had streaked inwards at depression altitude, grabbing 1 of the occupants equally it strafed the dwelling's roof.  Zooming off amongst the victim inwards his talons, the raptor was pursued yesteryear other martins until it disappeared into a nearby woodland.

Many acquaint were disturbed yesteryear the event, the life of a dearest songbird extinguished yesteryear a much larger as well as to a greater extent than powerful creature.  Ironically, nearly of them had merely consumed a chicken sandwich but nosotros humans are reluctant to intend of ourselves equally predators.  

Stopping Past Times Eagle Bluffs

During a brief remain inwards key Missouri, I took my oldest grandson downwards to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.  Though he is a novice birder, his attending bridge remains short, ensuring that our watch would endure relatively brief together with efficient.

Unfortunately, nosotros were greeted past times dense fog inwards the Missouri River Valley together with our initial leg through the refuge offered exclusively brief glimpses of the wildlife.  But, past times the fourth dimension nosotros turned dorsum at the due south halt of the floodplain preserve, the Sun had taken its terms on the haze together with nosotros were rewarded alongside a skillful diverseness of species.  Turkey vultures, bang-up bluish herons together with bang-up egrets were virtually abundant (if yous don't count the red-winged blackbirds together with indigo buntings) only nosotros also saw bald eagles, forest ducks, a double-crested cormorant, belted kingfishers together with a mix of shorebirds.  Highlights, novel to my grandson, were a twosome of American avocets together with a modest flock of blue-gray gnatcatchers.

While our watch was brusque together with the atmospheric condition was non ideal, a jeopardy to explore Eagle Bluffs is never declined past times this birder together with ii novel species for a budding naturalist were unexpected benefits.  Though I volition endure returning to Colorado inwards a few days, I'm already looking frontwards to my adjacent watch to this fabulous refuge, hopefully to grab the tiptop of the spill waterfowl migration.

Abandoned Nests

On my end solar daytime inwards key Missouri, my married adult woman together with I took a walk some Perry Phillips Lake, but southward of Columbia.  In belatedly jump together with early on summer, nosotros e'er cease at the covered line-fishing deck to lookout adult man the nesting action of barn together with cliff swallows; the quondam house their nests on the cross beams of the construction piece the latter adhere their cavities of mud to angular joints of the roof.

Now, inwards early on August, those nests are abandoned.  While barn swallows nonetheless strafe the lake together with following fields, feasting on insects, the cliff swallows accept moved off to the southwest, showtime their long journeying to southern South America; past times January, during the tiptop of the Southern Summer, they volition caput for North America ane time again, sometimes arriving inwards the Desert Southwest past times belatedly February.  The barn swallows volition migrate southward past times September, wintering inwards to a greater extent than northern regions of South America.

The abandoned nests at Phillips Lake are but some other sign that summertime is winding down, though many days of oppressive oestrus nonetheless prevarication ahead.  Some of us, piece fond of our four-season climate, envy these long-distance travelers, choosing to ignore the many natural together with human-induced threats that they confront along their journey.

Counting Birds Inward Kansas

Yesterday, I made the xi hr crusade dorsum to Metro Denver from Columbia, Missouri.  Since I had my oldest grandson along for the ride, I suggested nosotros count the expose of aeroplane species that nosotros encountered along Interstate lxx inward Kansas.  Knowing that the Kansas segment of our trip covers 422 miles, I expected to reckon xxx species or so; much to my surprise (and frustration), nosotros observed entirely 14.

Contrary to pop perception, the Kansas department of I-70 genuinely crosses an interesting kind of landscape together with habitat, including the eastern woodlands together with river valleys, the Flint Hill grasslands, the Smoky Hills portion together with the Western High Plains; nevertheless, our aeroplane sightings did non tally that diversity.  As i powerfulness expect, European starlings, stone pigeons together with mourning doves were nearly abundant together with a fair expose of red-tailed hawks patrolled the eastern one-half of the State.  The highlight of our count was provided past times 4 Mississippi kites, i distich close Junction City together with the other close Abilene.

While the highway birding was far less than spectacular, inward purpose due to our speed together with the mid summertime conditions, it did continue my grandson entertained together with made that six-hour segment appear shorter.  Perhaps we'll become to elbow grease i time to a greater extent than during the saltation or tumble migration; then, the ranch ponds volition concur to a greater extent than than cattle.

Late Summertime Flocking

As the days buy the farm along to shorten as well as summertime begins to lose its intensity, attentive birders abide by flocking demeanour inward many species.  For almost birds (goldfinches are an exception), their breeding flavour has ended as well as their territorial instincts accept faded; migrants get together inward flocks to cook for their southward journeying acre many permanent residents flat flocks to evade predators as well as to ameliorate the efficiency of their foraging.

Last evening, I encountered a flock of 30+ barn swallows, strafing a nearby lake to fuel upward for their journeying to South America; then, this morning, I watched every bit a flock of eighteen snowy egrets moved southward higher upward the South Platte Valley.  Among other belatedly summertime migrants that locomote inward sizable flocks are blue-winged teal,  Swainson's as well as broad-winged hawks, shorebirds, mutual nighthawks, American white pelicans as well as Franklin's gulls.  Non-migrant flocks of cedar waxwings, doves, robins, starlings as well as diverse blackbirds are too increasingly mutual every bit summertime winds down.

While the influx of wintertime songbirds volition non laid out until mid October, these belatedly summertime flocks offering around excitement every bit birders endeavor to recover from the mid summertime doldrums.  Better yet, they are a preview of tumble migration glasses as well as hint at the cool, crisp days that prevarication ahead.

Inspecting The Dead

Wanting to become closer to the cerise tide destruction, my married adult woman in addition to I visited Whitney Beach this morning.  Stretching along the northwest border of Longboat Key, it is both the almost scenic stretch of sand in addition to (in my opinion) the best birding place on this barrier island.  As expected, the beach was littered alongside dead fish, eels, rays in addition to horseshoe crabs in addition to the diverseness of birds was far below normal.

Wandering amid the dead, nosotros endured the nauseating stench of rotting bounding main life.  While a distich of yellow-crowned dark herons in addition to a dozen shorebirds (black-bellied plovers in addition to ruddy turnstones) scoured the beach, they stayed clear of the victims; dark-brown pelicans in addition to large flocks of laughing gulls passed overhead or lounged far offshore.  Except for a lonely hunter alongside his metallic detector, nosotros were the solely humans on that pop beach.

Though the algal counts accept waxed in addition to waned along Florida's Southwest Coast, the cerise tide is expected to persist until a tropical tempest or cool spill weather condition invades the region.  There is problem inwards paradise and, this morning, nosotros bore witness to its wrath. 

A Pelican Roost

For the get-go fourth dimension since nosotros purchased our condo on Longboat Key, a grouping of dark-brown pelicans has established a roost on a mangrove island, around 50 yards off our seawall inwards Sarasota Bay.  Common local residents, these marine birds breed along both coasts of North America, from Southern California as well as the Mid Atlantic States, southward.

Brown pelicans by as well as large nest as well as roost inwards colonies, preferring offshore islands where they are relatively condom from predators; hither inwards South Florida, mangrove islets are nigh ofttimes used.  Once their breeding flavor has ended, around wander northward every bit far every bit British Columbia as well as New England, returning to to a greater extent than southerly latitudes inwards the fall; vagrants may fifty-fifty plough upward along major river valleys, specially inwards belatedly summer.

Comical looking precisely highly skilled every bit fliers as well as divers, dark-brown pelicans commonly feed yesteryear plunging into schools of fish, using their nib pouch to snare their prey.  Often observed at angling docks, looking for handouts, they are 1 of the nigh recognizable marine birds along southern coasts as well as are to a greater extent than than welcome on our inlet of Sarasota Bay.