Top Ten Lifers of 2014

Each year I like to look back at the best birds of the year.  Usually I rank the top 10 lifers and some years I cheat and put extra on the list but this year I have a fairly concise top ten.  I have always lived on the East Coast and even though I have visited Colorado on occasion, this was my first full year living in the West.  With that I present my Top Ten Lifers of 2014, all of which were found in Colorado.

Number 10: Barrow's Goldeneye
Location: Timnath Reservoir 
Seen with Daisy on my day off of work right near the shoreline - 2 males and 2 females present.

Barrow's Goldeneye vs. Common Goldeneye

Number 9: Franklin's Gull
Location: Horseshoe Lake, Loveland

Seen with Emily and the dogs on the drive back from Boulder in April. 

Number 8: Sage Thrasher
Location: Pawnee National Grasslands
As Andy and I were chasing better weather we headed to the grasslands where we had killer looks at a Sage Thrasher.  The other bird highlight was a Sprague's Pipit within 10 feet away.

Number 7: Prairie Falcon
Location: Red Rocks Park
My brother came to Denver for a conference so I took him on a nice walk around Red Rocks where we were greeted with a flyover Prairie Falcon circling over the iconic rock.

Number 6: Magnificent Hummingbird
Location: Coal Creek Canyon, in the foothills above Boulder.
With reports of a Magnificent Hummingbird in the foothills I decided to give a chase since it was sticking around for a week or more.  I was able to drive up Coal Creek Canyon a few days before a major snowstorm.  The hummer came in for numerous visits during my morning and I even had some moment alone with it on the deck.  I hope this magnificent wayward bird made it safely south before the storm.  

Taken from Coal Creek Canyon

Number 5: Evening Grosbeak
Location: Fawn Brook Inn, Allenspark, Boulder County
After a mishap of missing a plane to Florida we took a drive up Allenspark to find winter birds.  We were in luck we found a flock of Cassin's Finch, Evening Grosbeak and even one Gray-crowned Rosy-finch.  It was a beautiful winter day with birds all around in the snowy gardens of the Fawn Brook Inn.  This spot is wonderful in all weather - perfect for hummingbirds in summer and winter specialists in the cold months.  

Taken at Fawn Brook Inn

Number 4: Rough-legged Hawk
Location: Colina Mariposa Natural Area outside Fort Collins
On New Year's Day, Emily and I went in search of birds and we were rewarded with a Rough-legged Hawk flying low over the open space south of Fort Collins.  We watched it until it disappeared over the housing communities.  Over the winter we saw numerous Rough-legged Hawks on our travels in Larimer County.  Each one was a delight.

Taken in North Larimer County near Douglas Reservoir

Number 3: American Dipper
Location: Poudre River near Mishawaka
After quitting my job at Larimer Humane Society and before heading to Ithaca, New Year I took a day to head up into the Foothills.  After coming down Rist Canyon I saw my lifer Northern Shrike in the top of a pine.  Feeling extremely lucky I decided to drive slowly down Poudre Canyon and scan for Dippers.  As I passed the Mishawaka I saw a bird dive off a rock and slammed on brakes. I maneuvered to a nearby parking spot at the Mish and had crippling looks at a nemesis bird.  It was a perfect birding moment and a little gift from Colorado before I move back to the East Coast.

Poudre River near the Mish

Number 2: Painted Redstart
Location: Crow Valley Campground, Pawnee National Grasslands
Warblers are my number one favorite bird and it's without surprise that my lifer Painted Redstart came in a the near-top of the list.  It was a close call and I would argue a tie with first place but I'm putting this colorful little warbler at number two since it's a vagrant.  The Painted Redstart was only a 30-minute drive away so after work I scooped Emily up from work and we headed east to the Pawnee National Grasslands.  Crow Valley Campground is a tree oasis in a grassland desert.  I'm always surprised by what shows up in this small tree-lined campground.  We were the only people in the campground for most of the time and had plenty of chances to watch this fast and lively migrant.  It was feeding in the treetops for most of the visit and a few days later I heard it had departed.  

Crow Valley Campground Painted Redstart

And at Number 1: Red Crossbill
Location: 1st seen in South Dakota Black Hills but later seen in Grandview Cemetery

That's a photo of Lark above in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  It's memorable because minutes after snapping this picture I saw a bird fly onto a nearby rock.  It was a Red Crossbill and then a juvenile joined it.  They only stayed a few minutes but this little family was a perfect addition to the lifer list.  A month later I saw a whole flock of them at Grandview Cemetery.

Look at that beak!

The Crossbill made the top bird of the year because of one simple thing - that beak!  The Red Crossbill is an amazing bird to behold and definitely is the Top Lifer of 2014.  It's one of those birds I have been salivating over since I flipped through my first field guide.  I feel blessed to have seen such an amazing bird and have such a special up-close encounter on my first time.  

The other eight lifers that I picked up in Colorado this year were: Cassin's Finch, Winter Wren, Clark's Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Cassin's Vireo, Brewer's Sparrow, Sprague's Pipit, and Northern Shrike.

Here's to 2015 being a bird year for all!  I'm expecting some seabirds to top my list in the coming year.

Larimer County Driving Tour

Mid-day isn't the best time for birding but it will do when it's your day off, you wanted to sleep in, and you only have a few more days in a wonderful state.  I started with a quick stop at Dixon Reservoir to scan for ducks.  Easily picking up Cackling and Canada Geese and Common Goldeneye.

Next was a pull-off at Horsetooth Reservoir with a few more additions in American Kestrel and Red-tailed Hawk flyovers.

I love Bellevue and drove by for one more look as I headed up Rist Canyon.

The finale of the evening would be a easy drive down Poudre River Canyon.

The sun was out and the frozen river was melting.  It was such a beautiful day and a gift from Colorado before I fly to New York.

The dogs even got a little walk around Picnic Rock which they enjoyed more than you can tell from this funny photo.  Daisy never understands why I have to take photos when all she wants to do is get to some unseen destination.

It was the perfect day to drive about Larimer County.  I picked up two lifers, enjoyed the sunshine, and had some quality time with my pups.  I'm going to miss this place.

American Dipper

Finally the elusive American Dipper was bagged!  In celebration of completing my Master's I took the pups on a little drive down Poudre Canyon on Friday.  I've been searching for a dipper for over a year now but it finally all fell together.  I just took a chance at skimming the rocks as I slowly drove by the river and right after passing Mishawaka I saw the little dip jump off a rock.

The perfect place to see a dipper since a parking lot was literally 5 feet in reverse which I did despite the danger because of my overwhelming joy. A quick hop across the road and I was face to face with a nemesis bird.

You can see why the bird is easy to miss in the photo above due to it's uncanny ability to just turn into a rock.

This little fellow was perfect and gave me a show for about 15 minutes before flying downriver.  I watched it feed, swim, hop and bob.  The best part was I had it all to myself on a beautiful, sunny Colorado day.

Thanks little American Dipper with your rolly-polly body, your funny walk, and your feeding show on the Poudre River.  You made my day!

Prince Puppy

Meet Prince, the cutest Chihuahua in the West.

Prince is from Mexico and was surrendered in Colorado when his family realized he was an escape artist that was soon to be run over in a yard with no fence.  Within the week he was home with me and my own pups.

Needless to say, little Prince has found a perfect (temporary) fit with us.

Baba Ghanoush and him are best friends and it's hard to imagine Prince not staying with us. In just a short week little man will be flying to South Carolina to live in his permanent home with my mom.  Until then, Prince, we will cherish you and that cute little face.

Up-close with a Clark's Nutcracker

Every now and then you get a special moment with a bird when you're not even looking.  On a recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park we stopped at a pullover to see the view and as we stood there with the nippy wind swirling about a Clark's Nutcracker landed feet away.  I raced to the car and was able to get back in time to capture a few up-close-and-personal shots.

I've never seen such a friendly Clark's Nutcracker.  Mostly my interactions with the species have been a quick flyover while hiking or a brief feeder visit that turns short with any sudden movements.  

Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful park and it was made even more special with the appearance of such a cooperative bird.

Magnificent Hummingbird Morning

On Saturday I took a drive down to Boulder/Golden to see the lingering Magnificent Hummingbird that has been hanging out at a private residence.  Adam, the gracious hummingbird host, gave excellent directions and provided some wonderful insight to the bird before she showed up to the feeder.  

Luckily I was greeted on three separate occasions with her feeding on the deck in addition to watching her perch on nearby trees and performing some insect acrobatics.

I was struck by her size, her energy, and though it was great for me to see her, I do hope she gets the message that she should be heading south.  

The Magnificent Hummingbird shared feeder time with a group of Hairy Woodpeckers.  Though I was surprised to see her chase off one woodpecker and take back control of the nectar.  Of course when you're a hummingbird the size of a chickadee you can chase off larger birds.  I don't claim any amazing photographic efforts but I did love the photo below with her landing gear out as she goes in for a perch spot.

Adam's yard wasn't just hummers and woodpeckers.  I saw this friendly Mountain Chickadee, who graced the railing on multiple trips to and from the nearby seed feeder.

Overall it was a great morning on the Adam's deck soaking in a lovely lifer and observing all the other bird behavior.  The following birds were seen in my one hour visit: Magnificent Hummingbird, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco, Clark's Nutcracker, House Finch, Cassin's Finch, and Brown Creeper.

Thanks Adam for sharing your beautiful deck and this lovely bird.  

Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.  This is a no guard rail, exhilarating ride through Rocky Mountain National Park with vistas for miles and peaks for days.  Once above treelike you can see all the way to Wyoming, it's just jaw-dropping beautiful.  Usually you creep along with sudden stops from tourists and the occasional animal crossing but on this late summer day we had the road to ourselves.  

As the fog rolled in our visibility was limited but then we would turn a curve and come face-to-face with snow-capped mountains with the soft glow of sunset.  The moon rose in the east and we headed west to Grand Lake.  Fortunately we were off the road before dark but not before we heard the bugle of elk through the misty, abandoned terrain.  Driving Trail Ridge Road is always exciting but made even more special when you find a lucky afternoon and it feels like you have the whole National Park to yourself.

Happy Birthday Rocky Mtn National Park!

Lily Lake in RMNP

Rocky Mountain National Park is celebrating 100 years!  This weekend we will cross Trail Ridge Road and take in the sights as we head to Grand Lake for a little rest & relaxation.  I'm looking forward to seeing this beautiful park again.  Cheers RMNP to the next 100 years! 

Cache la Poudre

The Cache La Poudre is a beautiful sight and luckily we live even closer to it now.  On Saturday we took an afternoon swim at Picnic Rock and on Sunday we drove down the canyon and made a brief stop at the Ouzel Picnic area to walk the pups by the banks.  

Emily walked up on a snake by the bank, while I scanned the rocks for a Dipper.  We didn't stay long but our brief stay was made better for the calming sounds and smells of a mountain river.

As we walked the little public trail by the parking lot we came upon a makeshift memorial.  After a little inspection we realized it was made for the two young people that died this spring in the river.  We were coming back from the Western Slope this Memorial Day when we saw the steady stream of emergency vehicles.  A young boy fell in the river while fishing and his young uncle jumped in after to save him but neither made it.  The river gives and it takes. 

We were certainly given many gifts this weekend by the Cache La Poudre. I miss the ocean, the steady waves, the salt air, the breeze but a walk by the Poudre is close to recreating this experience.  I love the chill in the air, the crispness, the sounds of the river, and of course the beauty that abounds all around the banks.  

Mountain Goats!

If I had a band, this would be our cover photo.  Gosh, aren't Mountain Goats just the cutest things you've ever seen?  I rode up Mount Evans despite my fear of mountain roads above treeline just to see these beauties.  They did not disappoint!

I loved the babies, the shedding, the look in their eyes as they scampered about.  It was definitely worth the anxiety of riding up a crazy road with drop-offs they literally go for miles.  The trip would only have been better of a Ptarmigin had showed itself on the multiple pull-off stops.  I guess that will have to wait till next time.

Marmot Weekend

Marmot sunning on Mount Evans

Have a splendid weekend!  May you find a warm rock in which to bask the afternoon away.  Better yet, find some cool waters to soak.  I know I'll be hoping for a dip in a mountain river this weekend.