Hi All
Was at Snowmass Ski-area yesterday, Wednesday, to give my regular weekly (free) bird tour. It was truly an international flavour with birders from all over the globe. Next week (19th) will be my last one for a few weeks. Details at foot of page Wednesday's (feeder*) highlights at Snowmass: *Top of Sam's Knob ca80 Rosy-Finches - Brown-caps and Gray-crowns of both forms, but no Black Rosy Finches sighted yet this season. 2+Gray Jays 2+ Red-breasted Nuthatches 10+Mountain Chickadees 5 Pine Grosbeaks (but no Red Crossbills this visit) *Top of the Gondola Hordes of Mountain Chickadees Pine Grosbeak Steller's Jay No Pine Squirrels, though they are frequently seen there, and no sign of the Pine Marten today - this splendid mammal is again an occasional visitor to this feeder this ski season Also - above 'The Cirque' (not part of the tour!) I hiked out of the ski area at approx 12,500 feet into an area where I occasionally find White-tailed Ptarmigan. This time I saw none. I heard some Rosy Finches very distantly. The day was almost windless making the cold temperatures quite bearable, and I sat a while to eat a sandwich (without gloves!), savour the outrageous view and the total silence except the brief Rosy Finches, and an occasional breath of wind rustling my clothes. The ice on my beard told me it was time to get moving again. Also, locally, have been seeing up to 25 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES on the pond at Coryell Ranch, CARBONDALE (viewed from the Hwy 82 frontage road), and up to 50 EVENING GROSBEAKS in Snowmass village. If anyone may be interested in coming to look for Rosy Finches, Wednesdays are bird days at Snowmass ski-area: There are two special ongoing events: 1) Until January 19th and again in late March I will be doing a free bird tour on the mountain every Wednesday - meet 11am at the Top of Sam's Knob 2) Starting late January Kim Potter expects to be banding Rosy Finches most Wednesdays for the rest of the season. Observers are welcome, and helpers too. There is no charge to participate / observe, but you will either need to purchase a lift ticket or walk up the mountain -the latter is only recommended for the extremely fit! Feel free to contact me offline for further details. Most of the (five) feeders are easily reachable for non-skiers/riders by purchasing a foot passenger ticket for the Village Express ski-lift and the Gondola ($32 day - $5 of which is refunded when you turn in your pass). Pass also valid same day on Aspen Mountain Gondola - great views and 10's of Gray Jays that will eat right out of your hand. Good birding all Dick Filby Carbondale Co USA / Norwich Norfolk UK -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
