It’s mid-March and I’m again in Colorado for conferences. In fact, glorious alternative to go birding with my mates Brad and Laura. Earlier than the conferences began we had three superb days of looking for out what we began calling “red-faced rascals” – the sequence of finches that seem like they’ve been dipped in raspberry coulis. My colleague Doug wrote me an e mail describing the whereabouts of those “rosy finches” and my spouse needed to handle my pleasure with horse tranquilizer… What a unbelievable little birds.
I flew into Denver from Mexico. I might need so as to add the Dallas airport employees to the checklist of issues Buffon was proper about. A little bit of rain precipitated a two-hour delay on the flight in and, on my manner again to Europe, they couldn’t discover the airplane (clue: large metallic factor with wings). If birders have been as inept discovering flying issues our life lists can be very brief certainly.
We would go away straight from the airport to the mountains so I had placed on the birding garments and appeared like a military veteran. Good factor: I used to be given precedence boarding. The “thanks on your service” felt undeserved although. In fact, I made that up. What’s 100% true is the flight quantity I took into Denver: 420. I used to be excessive and glad, not from “420” medicine however from the altitude and the anticipation of seeing woodpeckers and owls I had by no means seen earlier than. Alas, these sightings will likely be for one more time because the climate had thrown a spanner within the works: half a meter of snow had closed off our meant vacation spot. Within the spirit of Denver 420 we have been so mellow and chill that we cried however a single tear. Whereas doing a fast tour of Ralston Creek, we made different plans, or higher: we determined to let fortune lead us. At any time when we might bodily attain a “birdy” place we’d go and test it out.
Subsequent day, first cease – actually to get some wins after the frustration of the cancelled plans – was dependable Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. Late summer time 2023 the lakes and ponds had been empty, presumably as a result of the geese and geese have been moulting. Empty no extra, the ponds have been now brimming with geese of all creeds and persuasions – it was spectacular. Massive teams of Hooded Merganser, Redhead, Franklin’s Gull, and different floaters have been simply noticed.
If there have been such a factor as a Periodic Desk of Geese we went from hydrogen to uranium: each duck conceivable was there. After a pleasing morning with geese, crisp snow and sunshine, we adopted the wildlife path on our manner out. We admired the Bison within the frozen fields and noticed a juvenile Golden Eagle which was each lovely and a lifer for my hosts.
We slushed by the paths on the Audubon Middle & Trails within the Chatfield State Park to get to the feeders. Our hopes on this second cease for the day have been cruelly squashed because the feeders had little to supply. Nevertheless, there was a really confiding Cooper’s Hawk fortunately kek-kek-kekking. I feel he was laughing at us.
Ultimate cease for the day, Tucker Lake. This city reservoir does appear to warrant a fast go to in line with the eBird listings though we noticed few birds and nothing new in comparison with what we already had seen earlier within the day. Not value a detour, however when within the neighborhood, do test it out.
We returned dwelling for a very good dinner with mates, some wine and an evening dreaming of raspberry coulis, puppies and geese. Rising earlier than daybreak and on our manner up by the one mountain cross that had been cleared of snow. Our aim was the normally very busy Staunton State Park. We have been fortunate and early so we had the tracks to ourselves. In contrast to the day earlier than at Audubon, the tracks have been easy-going (aren’t these state park rangers wonderful?). Quickly Steller’s Jay, each Downy and Bushy Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch and White-breasted Nuthatch have been in every single place. The snow appeared to amplify the sounds and I assumed I heard Tchaikovsky’s music. Because it wasn’t Christmas and we have been undoubtedly not in a ballet theater this might solely imply one factor: Clark’s Nutcracker. It is a easy gray and black hen however I’ve at all times needed to see one. And now I did. Additionally it is hen 2100 on my life checklist. Happy to bits!
Our web analysis confirmed that anyone in Pine County had all three (Black, Brown-capped, and Grey-crowned) Rosy Finches on the feeders of their backyard. We drove to the placement, however stranded 200 meters earlier than our meant aim in a forest of menacing “no trespassing” indicators. My hosts, clearly realizing their countrymen higher than I do, strongly suggested me to not get out of the automotive. As an alternative, we must always head again to civilisation. Normally not one to rooster out, the nervous and anxious appears on their faces advised me to not ignore the recommendation. These Coloradans are apparently armed and harmful. Naturally, once I spoke with one other birder he advised me I used to be silly to not have walked up – in spite of everything what’s the worst that might have occurred? Nevertheless, birders’ patron saint Saint Gall rewarded my obedience and my hosts’ widespread sense with a sighting of not one, however two Townsend’s Solitaires whereas on our manner down. The identical Townsend’s Solitaire I dipped on final time in Colorado.
We had time for one more cease at Little Scraggy Trailhead. Though there was an individual decided to go tenting (why?) the paths have been empty. We walked by the deep snow – no shoveling park rangers right here – and bought onto a flock of Pink Crossbills virtually instantly. We have been glad sufficient for we have been getting cheap views. My hosts might confidently tick off the species on their life checklist. Nevertheless, a mere 10 minutes later we bought one other male Pink Crossbill singing from the highest of a pine tree. That was undoubtedly the sighting of the day – this putting purple hen in a white and darkish inexperienced panorama. Coming down from the emotional excessive we observed our grumbling stomachs: time to eat.
I’m not a fan of American eating places. The fast-food joints are boring and the top-line eating places do bizarre issues like “our tackle tiramisu” which interprets into “we’ve got taken out all important components and made a load of [expletive deleted] garbage“. Nevertheless, return to the fifties and have lunch at a diner and also you get fairly the All American Expertise. We stopped at Rosie’s Diner. Sincere meals in a fifties’ diner whereas reminiscing about all these motion pictures you might have seen about diners within the fifties. I can suggest it.
We ended the day and the weekend with a fast go to to the Norman D Park. Junco Junction would have been a greater identify – the Darkish-eyed Juncos have been plentiful. We bought a minimum of three sub-species however the spotlight was a Wilson’s Snipe we flushed.
Though cautious preparation, refined intel from actual ornithologists and loads of planning had been derailed by half a meter of snow, we ended up scoring 63 species over the weekend. I ticked off 9 lifers. We additionally noticed Prairie Canines, Bison, Mule Deer, Abert’s Squirrel and Coyote. All hen and animal footage are Brad’s. I’m very grateful for each his artistry and his driving.
