Category: Colorado

Colorado Trip Part II

Here are ten more photos from our Colorado trip. Some are life birds, some birds we see at home all the time, all are photos that felt were worth sharing.

1.

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American Kestrels are numerous in the Fort Collins area. Posing on a cattail at Cathie Fromme Prairie, 5/2/13.

2.

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Western Kingbird in the snow at Cathie Fromme Prairie, 5/2/13. 

3.

American Kestrel by Horsetooth Reservoir, Larimer County CO. 5/6/13. Photo by Tricia.
American Kestrel by Horsetooth Reservoir, Larimer County CO. 5/6/13. We pulled up alongside this bird and he never flew, I handed the camera to Tricia and she got a great shot. I love the detail in this photo.

4.

Horned Lark at Pawnee Grasslands, 5/3/13. This is the best look I've ever gotten of the "horns" of the Horned Lark.
Horned Lark at Pawnee Grasslands, 5/3/13. This is the best look I’ve ever gotten of the “horns” of the Horned Lark.

5.

Yellow-headed Blackbird at Cattail Pond in Loveland Colorado, 5/2/13.
Yellow-headed Blackbird at Cattail Pond in Loveland Colorado, 5/2/13.

6.

This Black-billed Magpie was so close I had trouble keeping the bird in frame. Rocky Mountain NP 5/5/13.
This Black-billed Magpie was so close I had trouble keeping the bird in frame. Rocky Mountain NP 5/5/13.

7.

This image is a little soft but I like the bird - Western Bluebird at
This image is a little soft but I like the bird – Western Bluebird at Chautauqua Park in Boulder Colorado, 5/4/13.

8.

Male Mountain Bluebird at Cathie Fromme Prairie 5/2/13.
Male Mountain Bluebird at Cathie Fromme Prairie 5/2/13.

9.

I would have liked to get a better shot of the red-shafted Northern Flicker. We saw many of them but this was my best shot. Cathie Fromme Prairie 5/2/13.
I would have liked to get a better shot of the red-shafted Northern Flicker. We saw many of them but this was my best shot. Cathie Fromme Prairie 5/2/13.

10.

This is my first photo of a Broad-winged Hawk that was not a speck in the sky. Bobcat Ridge in Fort Collins CO, 5/6/13.
This is my first photo of a Broad-winged Hawk that was not a speck in the sky. Bobcat Ridge in Fort Collins CO, 5/6/13.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorado Top Ten

Tricia and I spent a week on vacation visiting her brother Kevin in Fort Collins Colorado. Although we did a good amount of birding on the trip, the highlight for me was not bird related because Tricia and I got engaged while we were there. We took a hike on Lumpy Ridge Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park, where I proposed and Tricia accepted! It was an incredibly joyful day for me. Huge thanks to Kevin (and friends), I couldn’t have pulled it off without their help.

As I said, we did do a good deal of birding on our trip. Below are the top ten photos of birds that where life birds for me on this trip. My criteria for the list combined two major aspects, number one: how exciting it was to see the bird for the first time and number two: the quality of the photograph.

TOP TEN LIFE BIRD PHOTOS – COLORADO TRIP 2013

1.

We got an amazing look at this White-faced Ibis near Cattail Pond in Loveland Colorado, 5/2/13.
We got an amazing look at this White-faced Ibis near Cattail Pond in Loveland Colorado, 5/2/13.

2.

Western Grebe at North Shields Ponds in Fort Collins CO, 5/6/13.
Western Grebe at North Shields Ponds in Fort Collins CO, 5/6/13.

3.

We found this beautiful Swainson's Hawk on the side of the road in Loveland CO, 5/2/13.
We found this beautiful Swainson’s Hawk on the side of the road in Loveland CO, 5/2/13.

4.

Female Mountain Bluebird on a snowy day at Cathie Fromme Prairie in Fort Collins CO, 5/2/13.
Female Mountain Bluebird on a snowy day at Cathie Fromme Prairie in Fort Collins CO, 5/2/13.

5.

The Loggerhead Shrike was probably my favorite bird of the trip. We saw several while we were there, this one (with a meal) was found at Pawnee Grasslands, 5/3/13.
The Loggerhead Shrike was probably my favorite bird of the trip. We saw several while we were there, this one (with a meal) was found at Pawnee Grasslands, 5/3/13.

6.

This was an exciting bird for me - Rock Wren at Pawnee Grasslands, 5/2/13.
This was an exciting bird for me – Rock Wren at Pawnee Grasslands, 5/2/13.

7.

I was waiting to see a Mountain Chickadee, I was not disappointed at Rocky Mountain National Park - Lumpy Ridge Trail, 5/5/13.
I was waiting to see a Mountain Chickadee, I was not disappointed at Rocky Mountain National Park – Lumpy Ridge Trail, 5/5/13.

8.

We saw MANY Western Meadowlarks while we were there. Here's one in the snow at Cathie Fromme Prairie in Fort Collins CO, 5/2/13.
We saw MANY Western Meadowlarks while we were there. Here’s one in the snow at Cathie Fromme Prairie in Fort Collins CO, 5/2/13.

9.

Steller's Jay at Rocky Mountain NP, 5/5/13.
Steller’s Jay at Rocky Mountain NP, 5/5/13.

10.

I don't love this photo, but I didn't think a top ten from our week in Colorado would be complete without an American White Pelican. Loveland Colorado, 5/2/13.
I don’t love this photo, but I didn’t think a top ten from our week in Colorado would be complete without an American White Pelican. Loveland Colorado, 5/2/13.

Stay tuned, I will be doing a post of “honorable mentions” shortly. It will include more photos of life birds for me as well as some of my better shots of some more familiar birds.