Clear Springs Ranch 1-17-15

Walked a little over 6 miles (8.5 runtotal) from the parking lot on Loren Lane (I'm guessing named after Loren Whittemore north to the new fish passage and back (surprise - didn't know it was there, was heading for the Heron Rookery and it was just beyond it).  Got greeted by the ranch horse and dogs and the dogs accompanied us for half a mile or so before heading home.  No other visitors to the area the whole time we were there.  Beautiful day.

the old Sod House

Ferruginous Hawk

aptly named 'road'

Song Sparrow

Great Blue Heron rookery

Red-tailed Hawk at the rookery

Bald Eagle

Clear Springs Ranch fish passage - primarily for the Arkansas Darter

Hmm, not sure what?

These were about 9 ft. tall

Old moon - not too far from the sun, barely visible

old bridge

Fontaine qui bouille

curious dog

Seeing us off

FCNC Winter Bird Count 1-10-14

Birded area 3 primarily (Rice's pond area).  Best birds were Wilson's Snipe, Virginia Rail, Northern Pintail, and Canvasback.   Distance about 2-2.5 miles.

beautiful misty morning - lots of ice melting today

Wilson's Snipe

Pintail

Male Northern Harrier

Black Forest Christmas Bird Count 1-4-15

Sun Pillar 

Coyote pack

American Tree Sparrow

Rough-legged Hawk

Horned Larks

Icicles in Elbert

Hairy Woodpecker

Pikes Peak

Abert's Squirrel (through glass)

a birder's Christmas tree

Cassin's Finch 

Christmas Bird Counts (Fountain 12-17-14 and Colorado Springs 12-20-14)

5 miles 12-17 at Fountain and 10 miles 12-20 at Colorado Springs areas 6b and 12b.  (200 runtotal)

Bushtits @ Willow Springs Ponds 12/17

Brown Creeper

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Great Blue Heron (Fountain count)

American Wigeon

Gadwall

Intergrade Northern Flicker (Fountain count)

Double-crested Cormorant (Colorado Springs count @ Willow Springs)

Starlings

6b views

American Kestrel

12b views

Tanja and I finishing up 12b - from dawn to dusk!

Mule deer

Holiday Lights 12-12-14