Hi all
The last two days have been productive locally. Yesterday, Wednesday, on a snowy cold day, I did my 2nd to last bird tour of the season at Snowmass ski area, Pitkin County. Pine Grosbeaks, Gray and Steller's Jays and Mountain Chickadees frequented the feeders, as well as several Brown-capped Rosy Finches. I helped with the Rosy Finch banding, but shortly after catching our first Rosy Finch (a Brown-capped) we were startled by a Northern Pygmy Owl capturing a Mountain Chickadee and eventually getting itself trapped in the net. The owl was a real beauty, and an amazing bird to handle. It lingered for a couple of hours and I truly regretted not taking my DSLR on the hill. However the snaps with the Lumix were just dandy. Next week on Wednesday I will be joined by another British birder, Ian Lewington on the last of the Wednesday Snowmass birding tours.. Today I visited Spring Park reservoir (Eagle County) in the warmth of the late afternoon (62F) and found the reservoir has a little more open water (maybe 15% ice free). Lots of ducks there now, with at least 50+Barrow's Goldeneyes 40+ Common Goldeneyes Western Grebe (FOS) Hooded Merganser 1 drake Several Common Mergansers and Redheads Many Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall and Ring-necked Ducks Mountain Bluebirds are back too, favouring the few snow free areas on the pastures.. Roll on spring Good birding all Dick Filby Carbondale, CO -- 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.
