Alpine birds

Avian life in Avon has been minimal.  Black-billed Magpies are seen everyday.  Sometimes I see a flock of House Sparrows or hear a Mountain Chickadee.  During my recent days off, I drove to Golden, on the western edge of metro Denver.  There were many reports of Rosy-finches coming to feeders in a residential area.
      Gray-crowned, and Brown-capped Rosy-finches are the 2 species in this flock.

     Rosy-finches are northern forest birds, often living above timberline in the high mountains.  In the winter they descend to lower elevations seeking food and shelter.  A set of feeders or conifers with many cones can be very attractive to a hungry flock of Rosy-finches.  This area of western Denver has hosted Rosy-finches in previous winters.  In 2015 all the friends and relatives came in one big flock, easily 50 - 60 birds, descending on the feeders at one home.  It was an amazing sight to watch these gregarious pink and brown birds fill up each platform feeder and spill out onto the ground.  All busy eating without fighting.

     Other birds came too:  Black-capped Chickadees, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, Cassin's Finches, House Finches, a variety of Juncos, a Downy Woodpecker, a Flicker, and Sparrows.  Song, a White-throated, White-crowneds, and an American Tree Sparrow.  A protected platform feeder was provided on the front porch to allow the sparrows to eat in peace, away from the flocks of Rosy-finches.  Later in the morning a small group of Red-wing Blackbirds to investigate the seeds.

 The Tree Sparrows are so pretty I could not resist photographing them too.  They move fast, no perfect pictures.

    

a Sunbreak

Gray-white skies and falling snowflakes have been what's happening here for the past 10 days.  Yesterday morning blue sky appeared and I took a few photos.  I found a camera-shy Magpie hiding in a Spruce tree.

It finally came out to forage in the old grass and spruce cone bits.












Eagle River is acquiring a frozen top.  Many nights with temperatures in the teens and below make for a frosty river.










start of Bachelor Gulch Road

Snowy CBC

     The snow was forecasted several days ahead.  I was hoping for less than an inch because Christmas Bird Count was Sunday, the 14th.  Sunday morning I swept 5 inches of snow off Silver truck !!   I would meet the group of birders in Eagle, CO about 20 miles to the west.  All went well with the driving and I was assigned to section 2, riding with Bill and Kathy in their Subaru.
     We drove up Valley Rd (Gypsum Canyon Rd or FS 412) into White River National Forest.  The red dirt road goes thru grasslands and pastures, later climbing in elevation to a Pinyon-Juniper forest.  Snow was still falling, temperature was about 35 F.  Birds were doing the smart thing, staying hidden in dense thickets and out of the storm.  For our morning's efforts, 14 species were tallied.  Highlights were a Rough legged Hawk chasing a young Red tailed Hawk, a Dipper standing on a rock in a grey, cold-looking creek.   Photo above:   Not a creature was stirring, not even a Chickadee.

     I had today off as well, so I picked up the snowshoes and boarded the bus up to Beaver Creek Village.  Mountains across the valley were covered in a blanket of snow.  The Nordic Center opened 2 days ago.  My old wooden snowshoes caused quite some excitement when I went in to find a map.  2 men photographed them with smartphones !

Beaver Creek

I arrived in Avon, CO in mid-afternoon under overcast skies.  Immediately after exiting from Hwy 70, each driver is thrown into a series of 4 traffic circles (round-abouts).  I came out of the last one heading uphill, being grateful I had not been hit by the furious pace of the traffic.  Eventually I found the Housing Office and, after much discussion and paperwork, was assigned to an apartment.  By the way, you will need to park  "here"  (at least a mile walking from my housing building.)
     Tarnes at Beaver Creek was built to accommodate visiting skiers.  Later on Vail Corporation bought the 3 Tarnes buildings for employee housing.  Above photo.
     It will be a good place, now that I convinced them to send a maintenance worker up to the apartment.  The oven, stove, and shower did not work when I first came in.  This photo is of a 3rd floor window, similar to mine altho I am on the 2nd floor.

 This is the front of the building, my windows face the back side, uphill.

view from the front of the building to the north, across the valley.
     There was a good snowfall before I arrived resulting in most of the snow in the photo.  Overnight Saturday, and into Sunday there has been a bit more snow.  I can walk to work at the Reception Center which is much easier than going down to the overflow parking where I am told to leave Silver truck.  The town offers free bus service on 2 different routes.  I think Silver truck will have alot of rest this winter.

Avian life does exist here, I have seen 2 Black-billed Magpies, and Mountain Chickadees.

Roadtrip

I departed Grand Tetons on a Friday, and spent 2 nights with my friend, Marianne, in central Wyoming.  Continuing on, I drove east and south across windy Wyoming and into Colorado which was also very windy.  I stayed 2 nights with my friend, Sandy, in central Colorado.  We did a nice hike in Pike National Forest, adding Pygmy Nuthatches to the bird list.  She is very kindly allowing me to store Fuji-bike and Dolphin in her shed.
      I continued south on highway 25, driving across the arid grasslands with an occasional clump of Junipers.  New Mexico had more elevation gain and more trees.  I stayed 2 nights with my friend, Elaine, near Phoenix, AZ.  She has been very kind to let me leave Silver truck in her garage while I flew out NH to visit family.
    Photo of Sandhill Cranes in central New Mexico.

     Dad and I have been birding in several places.  Mom and I have made many good things in the kitchen. My brother came over to visit.  Saturday we drove to Plum Island in coastal Massachusetts to meet my sister and her family for a day of birding.  Hooray for birds !   It has been a good visit.

 Above, a Green Heron at Papago Park near Phoenix.

to the left,  this American Bittern was successful in catching small fish and little crabs in the open marsh.  Its the first time I have seen a Bittern out in the open for such a long time period.  at Plum Island, Newburyport, MA

We walked on boardwalks like this one into a beautiful Oak forest.  such a pretty day.






Afternoon delight:  a Barred Owl was very obliging to conduct its late afternoon hunting (looking for mice) sitting on a branch in the sun.

Season's end

     Signal Mountain Lodge stays open late into October, and is the only area of visitor services during much of October.  We finished inventory at the shop, and covered everything with sheets borrowed from Housekeeping, or plastic bags.  Mice and rodents are known to live in the basement during the winter.
     Aspen trees have provided glorious color to the valley this Fall.  When I departed on Friday afternoon, many Aspens had lost their leaves.

Willows turned golden and brown for the Fall. Naked twigs are a dark red-brown.  Elk drink from these ponds in Willow Flats while resting from their rutting behavior.









I hiked Open Canyon in early October.  Despite its name, Open Canyon trail does not lead to a spectacular view.  Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Gray Jays, and Clark's Nutcrackers were busy feeding and gathering seeds.  Least Chipmunks and Red Squirrels were also busy, scolding me for interrupting their foraging as I walked by.

Back at Signal Mt Lodge 2 young Mule Deer bucks entertained guests and employees alike.  This one crossed the road while I was watching them eat leaves and bushes.

A triumph of Swans

North of Jackson is the Elk Refuge. A viewpoint has been built where Flat Creek flows into the Elk Refuge.  I often stop to watch ducks and blackbirds during the summer.  One July morning Trumpeter Swan parents showed their young cygnets.  I was lucky enough to be there to take a few photos.
     In early October I stopped at the Refuge viewpoint again.  The Trumpeter Swan family was swimming together past the overlook.  So exciting to see the 3 cygnets have survived their first summer.

     








October has brought frosty mornings with grass blades and leaves covered with bits of ice. This is a Buckwheat with frosted red leaves and dried flower stalks.                                                                                             Spruce branches behind.

A foggy morning at Signal Mt Lodge.