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. 

The Guessing Game Begins

From mid May through nearly of the summer, thunderstorms oft construct inwards a higher house the Front Range peaks past times belatedly morning.  Steered past times upper degree winds, they deed eastward across the urban corridor as well as thus onto the High Plains where they may grow into monster supercells; June is the tiptop calendar month for tornadic thunderstorms across the Plains of Eastern Colorado.

For those of us inwards Metro Denver as well as other Front Range cities, the path of these storms is provender for a daily guessing game.  During years when the landscape is parched, nosotros promise that i volition deed over our property, dropping heavy rain.  On the other hand, these storms oft gain damaging hail and, if the seasonal wet is upwardly to par, nosotros promise that they volition angle to our northward or south.

Today's storms began to construct past times mid morning time as well as the largest of the grouping moved across downtown Denver (no give-and-take nonetheless on whatever damage); hither inwards Littleton, nosotros received exclusively a brief shower.  While minute or fifty-fifty 3rd rounds may occur, the laid out describe of piece of job of storms is to a greater extent than oft than non nearly potent, sucking grade out energy from the atmosphere as well as cooling the air behind them.  As I write this post, the growing remnants of that initial describe of piece of job loom to the east, stretching from the Black Forest (just northward of Colorado Springs) to Fort Morgan (in northeastern Colorado).

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.

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.

A Northern Sunrise

Back on May 26, when I flew from Washington, DC, to Geneva, Switzerland, the final rays of sunset lit the western horizon equally nosotros passed over Nova Scotia; past times the fourth dimension nosotros reached Newfoundland, it was totally dark.  Within approximately other hour, however, equally nosotros flew eastward to a higher house the North Atlantic, the glow of "sunrise" spread across the northern horizon too persisted until nosotros angled southeastward toward the coast of Ireland; past times then, the eastern sunrise had begun to illuminate the landscape.

That "northern sunrise" was, of course, the southern extent of the perpetual daylight that occurs to a higher house the Arctic Circle during the calendar month preceding too the calendar month next the summertime solstice.  The contestation of the Earth's axis produces this annual phenomenon also equally the perpetual darkness surrounding the wintertime solstice.

As alongside close natural spectacles, it was a affair of beingness inwards the correct house (i.e. latitude) at the correct time.  Had nosotros crossed the Atlantic further south, I would non accept seen the "northern sunrise."   

Flashback Post Viii

Today marks the summertime solstice, the commencement of the astronomical summertime inwards the Northern Hemisphere.  Some of us accept already had plenty oppressive summertime oestrus together with expect forwards to the mild days together with crisp nights of fall.  In the meantime, nosotros oftentimes escape (at to the lowest degree inwards our minds) to cooler climes, a thought I shared inwards June of 2011.

See: Carrabassett Flashbacks

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.

Haboob Season

The annual Southwestern Monsoon is laid out to intensify equally high pressure level over the Southern Plains in addition to depression pressure level over the Baja portion combine to sweep wet into the Desert Southwest; roughly of this atmospheric precipitation arrives from the Pacific Ocean in addition to Sea of Cortez only fifty-fifty to a greater extent than is swept across United Mexican United States from the Gulf of Mexico.

The oestrus in addition to wet ignite thunderstorms which oftentimes drib torrential pelting on the parched landscape, leading to flash floods inwards the canyons in addition to arroyos.  Cold downdrafts inside these storms are forced outward when they blast the ground, producing gust fronts that race across the side past times side desert, picking upwards sand in addition to dry out soil to practice massive dust storms, known equally haboobs.

Often hundreds (if non thousands) of feet high in addition to moving at lx mph or more, these storms blind drivers, coat buildings in addition to cars amongst debris and, of course, severely send on air quality.  The Southwest Monsoon, amongst its thunderstorms in addition to haboobs, peaks inwards July in addition to early on August inwards Arizona in addition to New Mexico; past times mid August, its nourishing rains to a greater extent than oftentimes than non achieve the Colorado Front Range in addition to volition live peculiarly welcome subsequently this hot, dry out summer. 

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.

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.

A Expert Twelvemonth For Fruit

Despite excessive rut as well as a prolonged drought through the commencement one-half of summer, the fruit crop on our Littleton farm has been splendid this year.  Mulberries were abundant inwards June as well as our diverse apple tree as well as pear trees are to a greater extent than laden alongside fruit than I guide maintain seen inwards many years.

Of course, this abundance reflects the fact that nosotros did non guide maintain a belatedly freeze this spring.  Though around upslope snowfall cruel inwards March as well as April, the temperature remained relatively mild as well as the blossoms emerged intact.  Since I am oftentimes out of town, our farm management mightiness last described equally willful neglect, characterized past times minimal irrigation as well as no role of fertilizers or pesticides; equally a result, the fruit is abundant only non terribly attractive for human consumption.  While I mightiness snack on an apple tree or two, close all of the crop is left for the wildlife.

Indeed, nocturnal squabbles guide maintain been evident this past times calendar week equally raccoons as well as skunks raid the fallen fruit.  Squirrels, flickers as well as mice likewise partake and, inwards around years, mule deer wander inwards to feast on the bounty.  What could last ameliorate for a naturalist than trees that necessitate no maintenance as well as attract a host of wild creatures? 

Prairie Sunflowers

While they may bloom from June to September, prairie sunflowers are to a greater extent than oft than non most abundant as well as conspicuous inwards August.  Native to the High Plains, clumps of these wildflowers adorn about every highway as well as province route inwards Eastern Colorado; since they favor total Sun as well as sandy soil, prairie sunflowers convey spread throughout most of the West as well as much of the Eastern U.S., wherever such weather condition exist.

These mutual annuals may await a chip scraggly where they point an abandoned plain only tin create stunning swaths of gilded inwards to a greater extent than favorable areas.  Their seeds are consumed past times small-scale mammals as well as a broad multifariousness of grassland birds as well as convey been used past times humans likewise (either inwards whole split or churned into a butter).

Prairie sunflowers are sure enough amidst the to a greater extent than widespread wildflowers on the Great Plains as well as are specially appreciated when the intense summertime Sun has baked away most of the greenery.  To me, they correspond the vanguard of tumble splendor.

Flashback Postal Service X

Two days later visiting the Columbia Audubon Sanctuary, where (among other habitats) I crossed a restored prairie, I am experiencing an outbreak of chigger "bites."  Though I stayed on the trails, my preventive efforts were otherwise minimal, having ignored my ain advice from June of 2016.

See:  Chigger Season

Spectacle At Dusk

On this cool, breezy eve inwards Columbia, Missouri, I went out to the dorsum deck for a aeroplane count.  After spending an sixty minutes inwards the lounge chair, I had seen a fair diversity of birds, all mutual summertime residents inwards our area.

As dusk progressed, I was almost to larn within when a flock of mutual nighthawks appeared inwards the darkening sky; numbering 32, they were drifting to the SSE.  To my delight, this initial flock was followed past times 2 more, all heading the same direction; the full count for all 3 flocks was 84.

Though large flocks of migrating nighthawks are non odd inwards belatedly August together with early on September, this evening's spectacle, unexpected together with almost missed, was particularly inspiring every bit the soundless travelers passed overhead.  They are on their means to South America, ever leaving good ahead of the tumble chill; dissimilar some insectivores (e.g. chimney swifts), which stick unopen to until mid October, nighthawks create non gamble whatsoever depletion of their prey (flying insects).  Feeding on the wing every bit they migrate, they volition non provide to the Heartland until early on May.

The Atlantic Comes Alive

After a tedious rootage to the Atlantic Hurricane Season, a chain of tropical storms, hurricanes in addition to tropical waves has developed inward the by few days.  Of course, September is to a greater extent than oft than non the acme calendar month of the annual Hurricane Season (which runs from June to early on November) in addition to electrical current atmospheric in addition to oceanic weather are favoring tempest development.

Just yesterday, Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall along the Mississippi Coast in addition to its flooding rains cash inward one's chips on to autumn most Pensacola in addition to Mobile; inward the coming days, that tropical organization volition inject copious wet into the Midwest which volition interact amongst a mutual frigidness front end to gain flooding from Arkansas to the Great Lakes.  Next inward trouble is Hurricane Florence, currently a Category 3 tempest inward the Central Atlantic; its hereafter degree remains uncertain simply it could potentially demeanor on the entire East Coast of the U.S.  Behind Florence are iii tropical waves, emerging from the West Coast of Africa every few days; since air current shear has currently diminished over the Atlantic in addition to sea temperatures are inward the upper 80s (F) off the Southeast Coast, the phase is gear upwards for potential landfalling hurricanes.

While the incidence of tropical storms in addition to hurricanes volition vary amongst a host of atmospheric in addition to oceanic patterns, our warming climate volition sure enough add together fuel to systems that gain develop.  Storms inward the Eastern Pacific bring dominated the headlines inward recent months simply the Atlantic has instantly come upwards alive!

Late Summertime Rut Wave

Following 2 weeks of relatively mild temperatures in addition to intermittent rain, the adjacent (and hopefully last) oestrus moving ridge is edifice along the Colorado Front Range.  Once again, it is the production of a high pressure level ridge, expanding northward from the Desert Southwest.  For the adjacent calendar week or so, afternoon highs are expected to accomplish the lower to mid 90s F, good higher upwards average for September.

Fortunately, the recent rains convey revived the vegetation in addition to the longer nights, combined amongst our high altitude in addition to thin, dry out air, convey allowed overnight temperatures to driblet into the fifties.  In addition, ascent hot air oftentimes ignites thunderstorms higher upwards the Front Range peaks, which in addition to thence drift eastward to render spotty relief from the heat.

Our run a jeopardy of these oestrus waves volition expire along until the jet stream becomes less stable inward mid autumn, undulating across the province in addition to dislodging warm atmospheric ridges amongst cool atmospheric troughs.  Snow unremarkably dusts the higher peaks past times like shooting fish in a barrel September in addition to upslope snowstorms by in addition to large coat the urban corridor past times mid October. 

Autumn Chill Inwards The Valley

While the afternoons are yet summer-like along the Colorado Front Range, the mornings forthwith pick out an autumn chill due to the longer nights.  Down on the South Platte River merely later on dawn, that chill was peculiarly intense and, inward response, the wild residents were noisy too active.

Canada geese, mallards, magpies too cedar waxwings were peculiarly conspicuous too migrant ducks were foremost to brand it from the north; this morning's visitors included blue-winged teal, American wigeon too gadwalls.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few summertime residents yet rest too a solitary snowy egret, huddled on driftwood inward the shallows, seemed to last contemplating his escape to warmer climes.  Normally nocturnal, a beaver was active inward the post-dawn chill, inspecting his dam earlier wintertime arrives.

We humans, similar the wildlife, are likewise invigorated past times the chilly air too the riverside path was filled alongside walkers, bikers too joggers.  After all, the autumn equinox arrives this weekend (September 22) too the glorious calendar month of October, which normally brings the foremost snowfall showers to the urban corridor, is merely precisely about the bend.