Colorado Field Ornithologist (CFO) Convention in Sterling Colorado

Bill and I attended our first CFO Convention over the Labor Day weekend in Sterling, Colorado. We gathered with 175 other birders and the mayor of Sterling for the welcome barbecue on Thursday evening followed by 3 days of field trips, a Saturday night banquet, talks and impromptu "chases" to see specific birds.  

A Black-billed Magpie along the route to Sterling.

After the welcome BBQ, several of us went out to search for Western Screech Owls. The leader lead a car parade to a remote spot and called in the owls. It was quite dark when I took this shot and I'm amazed I got anything - but it's a picture, so it counts - a lifer for both Bill and me.

Our first field trip took us to a private wildlife area in Fort Morgan. We saw lots of Towhees - this one is a juvenile Spotted Towhee.

There was a lot of discussion about the identity of this sparrow but the leader finally decided it was a Song Sparrow.

Western Wood Peewees were the default bird of the trip - we saw dozens.

A Red-shafted Flicker.

Swainson's Hawk

I've only seen Wilson's Warblers in the high country before this trip.

 

Another Life Bird for us - a juvenile Mississippi Kite. There were a lot flying high over one of the city parks, but Bill and I waited until dusk when they began to land in the trees.

Not a great picture as it was so dark - but a real thrill for me to see one up close.

Our birding group (the slackers) on Saturday at Columbine Park. Our leader is Ted Floyd - a wealth of fabulous information!

 This has been the year of the Cedar Waxwings! There were dozens in one of the trees - both adults and juveniles.

This time of year, I don't see the red on their wings.

A Red-breasted Nuthatch looking for insects.

Our Sunday trip took us to Tamarak SWA where I saw this Bullock's Oriole. We counted a total of 58 species - not bad. It was a great weekend and we are already looking forward to next year!

Wildflower Walk in Palmer Park

...and a couple of birds too! It was a beautiful morning - temps in the 60's, gentle breeze. It was a little hazy - smoke from wildfires in Arizona - but not terrible. Bill was looking for a Rose-breasted Grosbeak - but had to settle for this Black-headed Grosbeak.

The very common Towhees were everywhere.

We walked the Yucca Trail and the wildflowers were in full bloom.

The female Black-headed Grosbeak was not far from the male.

Bill calls these sunflowers.

and these he calls Indian paint Brush.

Neither of us know what these are.

The Yucca are everywhere. Even in full bloom, I don't think they are very pretty.

These lovely purple flowers are common. They smell like a kind of onion.

Wild Roses?

You can see the haze blocks a crisp, clear view of the Peak.

This fuzzy wonder was about 3-inches across.

The Yucca flowers are pink before they open...

...and white after.

More sunflowers.

This Black-billed Magpie was waiting for us back in the parking lot.

Nice walk - thanks Bill!

Ice, Snow, Wind and Hail = Indoor Projects!

We finally got to enjoy our patio this Memorial Day weekend. Before that, the cold winds kept us indoors.

It's been pretty dry - except for the hail, ice and snow. At least the grass (or should I say, dirt) is getting a much needed drink.

We've been busy indoors - renovating the guest bathroom. Yes, it really is that orange! At first, we were just replacing the floor as it was stained. We needed to pull the toilet when we tore out the old floor - so maybe we'll replace that while we're at it. The sink was old and worn - so we checked into finding a new one - but they don't make that size anymore - so maybe the whole top - counter and sink should be changed. The old cabinet was custom built and not a normal size, so we couldn't just buy a new top - we needed to replace the vanity cabinet also. Out came the old one with the orange tiles on top - being careful not to mess us the tiles on the wall and we found a cabinet and top we liked to replace it.

While the room was almost naked, we decided to finish the job and paint the walls and ceiling. We had JUST enough paint left from the master-bath project, but he-who-shall-remain-nameless spilled the paint into the tub, so we had to buy a new can to finish the job.

Nothing is simple here at the Cruff house. The new sink is centered in the counter top whereas the old one was off to the right. This meant, the medicine cabinet and light were no longer centered. Down they came. Now we had a hole in the wall, lopsided plumbing and an electric box for the vanity light off to the side. Many adjustments and visits to Lowes later, we have a new mirror covering the hole and a light that is almost centered over it. The old toilet is sitting in the guest room (room with a bath?) and a new one is in the garage. We need to keep the old one just in case the new one doesn't fit - since the rough-in for the drain is not the normal 12 inches. Once the new floor is in, we'll find out.

I've still managed to get some quilting done. After cutting fabric on the dining room table - my back was a disaster, so my wonderful, resourceful husband found a solution - he propped up the legs with PVC pipes. It's just enough that I can cut in comfort. Of course, the table has to drop down when we have company - but that's OK. The old computer desk in the 3rd bedroom is my new sewing table. The set-up is not as convenient as I have in Florida, but it works.

These are the squares I'm assembling. They are the first step in a French Braid pattern that I'm adjusting as I go. The colors and patterns are fun to work with.

Our yard is finally looking a bit better. We still have huge brown spots - but there are signs of new growth, so we are hopeful. The flowers and pond help tremendously.

We have had more new birds in the yard this year then ever before. This adorable Yellow Warbler has been a daily visitor. We think maybe they like the neglected yard - or maybe it's because we have not been outside to scare them away. What ever the reason, we are enjoying them from our kitchen window!

The Western Tanagers are still around, but not in the numbers as we had earlier in the month.

This was another first for the yard - a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We think he followed us home from Missouri.

The Bullock's Orioles have left now - but they stayed around for almost two weeks. We THINK this one is a first-year male as the females do not have the black on their chin.

We think this is another first-year male, a little further along with his adult colors. The bright orange one we had earlier this month probably had more Baltimore Oriole in his family tree. Please correct us if we are wrong!

The Magpies are beautiful birds - but they are loud and obnoxious.

The Lesser Goldfinches are just starting to return. We saw our first one over the weekend. All males so far, but we expect the females will arrive very soon. Last year we had dozens enjoying the thistle feeder.

The larger and prettier American Goldfinches have mostly moved on. We just see one or two a day now.

We'd had several Chipping Sparrows.

And this new bird. We THINK it is a Swainson's Thrush. It's larger than a Sparrow and smaller than a Robin. He feeds on the ground, not at the feeders. Please let us know if our identification is not correct.

Setting Up the Bird Cafe

One of the very first things we did after returning home to Colorado Springs - even before we went to the grocery store - was to go to "This Place is for the Birds" and get bird food for the feeders: sunflower chips, suet and Niger thistle. Our second stop was "Wild Birds Unlimited" for some birdacious bird butter - peanut flavor.

The House Finches are regular visitors - and the first birds to return once the feeders were full. This time of year, the males sport red heads and even redder chests. The females are duller.

Even the Grackles are pretty in the Spring. Look at his blue head! Our pond took quite a beating while we were away. The raccoons moved the stones around, completely destroyed one of the waterfalls and tore the filter/bubblier out of the water - pulling the hoses out from under the wall of the upper pond. It will take some work to rebuild. The good news is that our fish made it through the winter. I haven't counted all of the noses yet - but it looks like most are accounted for. The rubber duckies were glad to have us home too.

We've had several Northern Flickers stop by. I wonder if they are the baby flickers we saw last summer.

We've had more Mountain Chickadees than I've ever seen before. They like to sit on the fence or in the Russian Olive Tree. A female chickadee (after noisily mating in the tree just over my head!) checked out one of our bird houses - but I haven't seen her go in again.

The Black-billed Magpies are easy to identify. They are large and beautiful with black, white and blue markings and a long tail - but they have nasty dispositions and yell at the other birds.

I think the Robins have the prettiest eyes! My best friend growing up in Havertown was named Robin. They both arrived in early April.

Of course, I can't forget our ever-present visitors, the squirrels. I think someone in the neighborhood must be feeding them as several are so fat, they can barely make it over the fence. They seem to have little fear of humans and I swear if I invited them into the house - they would gladly come in. I'm careful not to let them see me throw seeds and berries on the ground for the ground-feeders as I want them to stay wild.

It's interesting to watch the way different birds feed. Most stay at the feeders and eat all they can, but the chickadees seem to carefully select the perfect seed and then take it somewhere else to eat. They come back and forth from the tree to the feeder. This little guy liked the bird butter as well as the seeds.

Last night, Bill's daughters came over for dinner: Laura and Terri; husbands, Tim and Brent; and grandchildren Camron and Sidney. We were especially pleased that grandson Nate and his girlfriend also joined us. Bill smoked some pork chops (they were overdone - but don't tell Bill) smashed some potatoes and, inspired by our trip through the south, baked delicious corn bread in his iron skillet. For an appetizer, he made cheese balls using a Tastefully Simple mix that good friend Wendy gave us. YUM! I made a salad and opened the wine. What a great evening!

Today started out with sun - but the wind was brisk when we came home from our morning workout at 24-Hour Fitness. The dark clouds were building over Pikes Peak. Bill made a delicious kale and chicken soup - fitting for the cold weather. As it simmered, the skies opened and the snow came down! When I was a child, my father called the late spring snow the "Onion Snow."

I had hoped to plant flowers in our planter boxes today - but it was too cold. It snowed hard for a couple of hours, then the skies cleared and the sun came out again - melting all the snow. Ah, the wonder of Spring in Colorado!!