I was out hiking the other morning and came upon a critter I’d not encountered before. Okay, I’ve seen the species (I believe it was a red fox) however it wasn’t red, nor silver, nor white (albino/leucistic) … it was jet black!

I didn’t know such a coloration existed for a red fox, but doing some research it seems they do occur naturally. This guy was not going to hang around for me to see if s/he had a white tip to the tail, s/he ambled up the hill (with the typical fox bounce in the step) and disappeared over the rise.

S/he left quite an impression with me. A wonderful start to a hike. One more indication of how there is so much new and exciting to learn outdoors…

Black against the snow

Black, not that a Silhouette can show that

Peregrine Falcon photo courtesy Boulder OSMP

This year I applied to be a Raptor Nest Watch volunteer with Boulder Mountain Parks & Open Space. I found out about the opportunity on the Boulder county nature-net mailing list (from the Boulder County Nature Association) and found myself thrilled at the opportunity to monitor nests of eagles, osprey, falcons (and other species.) Bird of prey are so spectacular, and yet other than the few standouts like the eagles/osprey so hard to identify in the field (for the non-native birder, like me.) As such, ever since I applied I’ve been excited about what I’d learn.

I was lucky enough to be accepted into the program, and assigned a nest site not too far from my home, and in a beautiful location (not that they all aren’t around here.) I was assigned peregrine falcon, a bird I hadn’t even realized was around here. I saw my first Peregrine Falcon (at least first since perhaps in childhood) when in Cornwall, UK last year. I was hiking along the clifftops and a parent/offspring duo flew past me granting me a wonderful close-up. Having them here in Colorado, near my home, wow … awesome!

I’ve never been much of a joiner, and I like my nature empty (except for wild critters, my iPhone to record my wildlife, and my dog at camp) so this application was a first for me. Amusingly perhaps I’ve joined the volunteer program that suits this preference best, since observers perform their observation duties by themselves and exchange reports via e-mail. Still, I’ve met others in the team (for this site) at the orientation meeting and on a field trip, and both times enjoyed their company. It is nice to know who they are, to understand the pleasure we all share from the outdoors, and to get and share reports on the site. Working behind the computer of a day it is wonderful to be vicariously taken outside, to connect with this wildlife location.

My first solo trip for the weekly two hour observation duty met with decent weather, and clear skies. Falcons (other than Kestrels, which are partial migrants here) are only just returning to Colorado so there is not much falcon activity, however the Golden Eagle put in an appearance high above. A pair of these massive & majestic birds rode the thermals along the ridge-line (rising, tucking wings and diving to rise again as if having a roller-coaster of fun) before resting on the rocks above. Townsend’s Solitaire were the ‘dawn’ chorus, with American Robins soon taking over as the noise makers.

All in all a very pleasant time of putting the busy world aside for a while and sitting watching the natural world while contributing to natural science. I am so grateful of this opportunity, and am looking forward to the nesting season ahead.

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Note to those concerned: I’ve checked with OSMP on what I should (and should not) post on this topic, and now and during the nesting season will limit my comments to those that do not convey more information than can be found on the OSMP website.

Bald Eagle eating fish for supper

To end 2009 we took a family trip to Lake George, CO.

I went up early Christmas afternoon to get the icicles out of the cabin. I arrived shortly before dark and was welcomed by a couple of Bald Eagle. The adult had a fish, perhaps from the ice fishermen or perhaps from the South Platte river. The more cautious bird, apparently a juvenile, stayed behind.

Despite the low light these birds treated myself, and a couple of other wildlife lovers (who gathered in freezing temperatures to take photographs) to a nice close up.

Wow, what a present.

The time offline at the cabin was a wonderful family week of sledding, cross country skiing and ice skating and hiking in the hills. Amongst the tracks in the snow (and how I love reading the tracks to see what is where) I found & followed a pair of mountain lion tracks and vicariously enjoyed their stalking the deer.

At times the weather turned bitterly cold, and then the birds and critters came to the feeder. It was great to share the week with these guys…

Steller's Jay -- What's Up?

Fluffy Seed Eater

Abert's Squirrel ... don't get your tongue stuck!

Coal Creek Canyon Elk

I’ve been working too much recently, a confluence of events but the results (hopefully worthwhile) will be announced shortly. Still, one result … a tired/unfocused brain (way too prone to wildwalking in Twitter-land) and an antsy body. With a big snow storm (foot or more) expected to hitting the next day or so, I needed to get out and #playoutdoors. The goal of “go see the Elk” came to mind, a wildlife goal, time to go wildobs’ing…

I grabbed my binoculars, camera (not taken her out enough) and iphone and set off to the bottom of the Canyon. There is a winter warning for an approaching snow storm, and I know the Elk like to move down into the flatlands (down from the rugged foothills) when storms approach. I wanted to find them.

As I approached the the place I hike I stumbled upon a mule deer foraging openly on bushes, then a red-tailed hawk sitting high on a tree above. (I’ll post photos of both later.) I wandered out into the hidden valley and found it such a wonderfully warm/calm fall day I really couldn’t help but to sit and just enjoy. Gosh, yes … fall is my favorite season in Colorado.

Black-capped chickadee (they always look so sharp and dapper) and magpies kept me company, although one small wasp didn’t seem to want me there. Hmm, quite a few wasps and other bugs about on this warm day … I wonder if (and then how) they’ll survive this coming snow.

No Elk to be seen in the hidden valley (I didn’t expect them there, too ‘claustrophobic’ for daytime) nor on the plains (I did there.) After a few minutes sitting a movement caught my eye up the hill. A herd 50 or more strong was coming over the railroad tracks, slowly making their way to the plains. I’d gotten ahead of myself (or at least the Elk) and was there before them. So, I returned to where I’d started (the closest point to them) and savored the scene.

I stopped to photograph a fluffy caterpillar [have an id for m? please comment] (how late in the year is s/he?) and that moment delayed me just enough to reach a fence line just in time to enjoy a northern harrier doing it’s ‘circuits and bumps’ over the field. Gosh, I was getting far more than I’d hoped for, a simple yet wonderful wildobs’ing trip.

It might not have been the most energetic or adventurous trip out, but it sure recharged my wildlife batteries. Yum!

North Table Mountain

I was preparing a guest posting for the excellent The Grass Stain Guru website and wanted an outdoors photo of WildObs Observer (iPhone application) for the posting. I was taking a hike in one of my current favorite open spaces North Table Mountain and so I took my iPod and my camera. I felt a little weird doing “a photo shoot for an iPod”, and I am no photographer, but I had a fun trip out. [Click any photo for a closer view.]

Perhaps it was because I was slowly moving (taking a photo here, another there) but I also had a very natureful trip. A skunk wandered by me uninterrupted by my presence. Massive bees buzzed past me going about their business. I discovered rock squirrel (a first for me.) I saw lizards and birds I had not seen this season. It was quite a memorable trip.

Colorado is living up to it’s “colorful” name right now with glorious wildflowers, and even a seasonal waterfall. Yes, this open space is one of my favorites right now.

At the start of the trip. I am sure there is a fly catching bird (perhaps Kingbird) in there somewhere, but clearly my arm isn’t long enough to get both the iPod and the critter in focus. [I tried with the skunk, even risking myself by getting close, but the photos just didn't work out.]

Photo Shoot for a Wild iPod

Ok, a rock … that seems a good place to try. Nice background w/ the mesa:

Rock iPod

Wildflowers, now there is some color.

Wildflower iPod

Here is what I really came for. Up on top of the mesa some flowering cacti:

Scenary iPod

Ok, the water “fall” is a trickle, but still worth a shot:

Waterfall iPod

More blooming cactus:

Flowering Cactus iPod

More color:

Wildflower iPod

Again, a bit of a daft endeavor but a fun way to get some exercise and be outdoors amongst nature.

Lake George is a wonderful little lake: built as an ice producer for the miner at Cripple Creek, newly refurbished after muskrat undermined it’s dam, currently undergoing random dredging attempts, below 11 mile canyon and next to the South Platte River (when it is but a stream.) It is also next to the cabin we go to.

Lake George (albeit now full)

This weekend it saw frost/rain/snow but also sun/blue skies. Each walk around it was a different and invigorating experience. Spring is building on the lake.

There were more water fowl (mainly coot & ducks) than it normally sees; a vast array of species. Luckily I had a sister-in-law wildlife biologist (central flyway) to help me identify the species ‘cos I was lost amongst the masses. Gadwell, Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Canvas back, Merganser, Bufflehead the list goes on. It was great to see them out enjoying the lake and feasting on it’s weed before they moved north. A mass of life.

On the cold mornings (after a spring snow) there was a thin layer of ice on the lake, and frost on the ground & cat tails. Red-winged blackbirds were settling in, with males singing to the world. A Belted Kingfisher stalked along the Platte, it’s call clear and distinct. On the muddy banks (even down at the water’s edge) mountain & western bluebirds took advantage of the damp ground to find food. Nice to see all these guys back for the season.

A couple of muskrats showed themselves to us in the river. Swimming away oblivious to the fact that they’d been the primary cause for a $1M & multi-year dam repair job (they’d just  been doing their thing & burrowing.) These guys remind me of the (somewhat cuter) water voles of the UK, just bigger/more gangly. Encounters with them make me smile.

The Tarryall Mountains red, and further enhanced with sunrise light, surrounded a low patch of cloud (technically fog I guess) from the remaining evaporating snow. The view from lakeside over the water and to this sight in the west was breath taking. Slowly the fog moved up and dissipated.

Turkey vultures (firsts for the season) demonstrated their amazing gliding skills, effortlessly skimming high and then low (almost brushing the ground) as they search for carrion. Ugly with the red faces yet beautiful in flight. Again, a welcome return for the season.

No bald eagle this weekend, but before we left we had one quick search for “a large white bird” my wife noticed flying over/down to the lake. Our inquisitiveness was rewarded by the gift of (separately) a white American Pelican and an Osprey both fishing the lake (although the Pelican took the more sedate approach.)

Spring is growing fast & strong at Lake George, CO.

As I was driving back into Coal Creek Canyon this morning I spied the 70-80 strong herd of Elk over in the open space by Plainview. That was enough for me to detour & go for a walk. If you didn’t get to be/play outside today, let me take you where I went…

Plainview (albeit later in the year)

Sunny but not hot and with little wind it was perfect for a stroll. Mountain bluebirds (not as many as earlier in the year, and no Western) and Meadowlark were about, and some other small lark of sorts was making music up in the sky. Basically a just another great day to be alive and outdoors.

The ground was moist, the recently melted snows had granted that. The moles had made the most and pushed up a lot of soil & Elk had planted their hooves firmly in those piles. Small purple flowers were blooming, as were fat/round cactus. One could get a decent dose of wildlife just by stopping & looking down.

Up the other side of the draw the few remaining resting Elk were preparing to join the herd out on the plains. I watched them get up and casually move on. The couple of bull Elk were little more than spikes, and one lopsided with a single antler. A young Elk (and there were many) seemed to be having fun with a group of mule deer, perhaps lauding his ‘large’ size over them. For once he wasn’t the smallest around, and he seemed to enjoy herding them to his whim.

The creek draw was largely devoid of birds for a change. That’ll change soon enough, but right now the chatterers were scads of crickets (clicking their red wings), rushing water, and frogs. One small indent in the ground forms a pond this time of year (weeks ago it was just dry dirt) and the frogs were croaking their mating calls.

A year ago I’d found these frogs hard to creep up on, but had managed, so decided to take on the challenge of stalking them. My goal … to see them mid croak. Daft as it might seems, my tool of choice was my binos … ‘cos these critter are small, hide well, and shut up when disturbed. I spent over half an hour creeping steadily closer and closer to those noise makers, and (sad to say) I failed. They hid in an inches deep pond, invisible despite my focused scrutiny. Amazing; today I’d fail as a heron looking for lunch. I’d hoped to identify these frogs, but today I had to settle for … they are the “loud croaking, good hiding” type of frog.

As I watched the pond I remembered to take occasional looks behind me; one never knows when wildlife will sneak op on a sneaker. I half hoped the deer would tire of being herded and seek shelter down here, but if they did they passed unnoticed.

Still, as I left the puddle, I stumbled upon a small group of travelling Elk coming to re-join the herd. I’d caught their eye just as they caught mine, and although they hadn’t fully made me I only watched them for a while before I moved on. I’d replenished my wildlife batteries for the day. A good trip.

Recently, I’ve taken to posting #ABDIP each morning. It started because I observed @coastalartist doing similarly, and felt it was a glorious way to start the day; to focus on the wonderful & value the gift of life. Here in Colorado that isn’t hard, things are often so amazing.

This morning (a Monday morning in many ways) I wasn’t ready to settle down to work so I decided to walk the dog, and get the days juices flowing. Bright white snow everywhere (a foot or more, but fluffy/melting not cold/freezing) and bright blue in the sky. Typical Colorado winter.

Just slightly up the hill the distinctive tracks of turkey are everywhere. Their long scaly legs allow them to wander in the woods, but in deep snow they enjoy a break of a snow-plowed road, like we all do. A fox had a similar idea, or maybe was sniffing after a turkey dinner.

The snow is thick, still hanging in the evergreen trees. Wind blows the occasional ‘glistening showers’ down to the ground; briefly they shimmer in the sunlight. The morning sun melts the snow, which drips to form into hanging icicles. The fields are covered with pristine smooth blankets of white (uninterrupted, except for the occasional critter track.) The damp bark of the ponderosas gives reds, the needles deep greens, the cones browns; all stand out against the snow enveloping them. All this works to deliver a “winter wonderland” to match any holiday scene.

Truly #ABDIP. Twenty minutes well spent.

Moose at Rainbow Lakes

I hadn’t been back to Rainbow Lakes in a while, in part ‘cos I didn’t want to recreate (or compare to) this wonderful trip (see right.) Still, with little snow around I felt it was close enough & high enough to be a good choice for a Superbowl Sunday hike. I hit the road early, and arrived amongst the day’s first blue skies and glistening snow flurries.

As was probably obvious the gate was closed down by the road (by the CU mountain research center) so I figured I’d stroll the few miles up to the campsite, and back. There was snow on the ground, but not a lot, so I put on boots and gaiters (foregoing snowshoes) and set off. With my Elmer Fudd hat, thick coat, warm gloves and a backpack full of gear I was ready for the day.

For the safety conscious, please note: I take a GPS reading for the car (one can get lost on even a straight road in a blizzard) and my family knew where I was/when I’d be back. I had gear in case plans changed w/o my consent.

Much of the trail was sun/wind cleared and an easy hike. Cross country skiers had but a thin patch of snow, in a ditch at the side of the trail, to shuffle along. Some intrepid snowshoe hikers had taken to the trees to find snow and adventure. This trail was a gentle upwards slope. Sunny & very pleasant.

Having seen moose here before I enjoyed looking for sign of them now. There were stale tracks, but nothing fresh. Amusingly at some points on an otherwise clear rocky trail there were big snow footprints as the moose tracks (compressing the snow to ice) had frozen solid, and all around them had melted. An amusing sight.

The trail continued into some wonderful country. A couple of vistas were presented with stark views of white giants (the mountains covered in localized blizzards.) Soon much was aspen groves, gnarled pines full of character, rocks … all good rugged Colorado country.

At one beautiful rock outcrop I stopped for a photograph. When my camera failed to come to life (I should have charged the battery after last trip) I felt mixed emotions. When in a scene that just needs to be captured a photograph can seem the easy way out. I took time to stop and take a mental imprint, I was the camera & nothing digital there.

I’d subconsciously planned (hoped) to reach the willow fields (just before the campsite) but came upon a good 1/4 mile section of deep snow. Drifts built and not cleared by wind/sun. I stubbornly plowed on (wishing I’d thought to carry the snowshoes) and was greeted with snow up to my thighs. Steps were laboured, to say the least. Here is what I found as I plodded along…

As you walk on deep snow without snowshoes you tend to hope, hope that each footing will hold without collapsing underneath you. They don’t. Managing the fall (as you sink deep, trying not to fall too awkwardly) takes almost as much effort as raising your leg to step out. If you cannot gain a purchase to get out you sit there, silently reciting “I will pack snowshoes, I will pack snowshoes…”.

Wet/cold or not, you sit a while in the deeper holes. Soft snow is best because you can raise your leg without additional resistent. The worst snow is that which signals the promise of holding you, then does not, then makes you work hard to get back out. When covering such terrain you have plenty of time to understand why Eskimos have so many words for snow. At the end of this I was exhausted.

Note to self: It is winter in Colorado, you take protection from the elements, take snow shoes too!

I made it to the willow fields and found little but stale moose tracks. More, but still stale. Perhaps they’d moved their range for the winter, found somewhere with a more convenient water & food supply. Or, maybe they were just in the woods watching me come, stop and sit & then trudge home. Either way, no moose sightings today.

It was a good outing. Few critters seen except the usual companions of squirrel and chickadee, but still a good outing.

Home, tired and sated, I might be able to sit down long enough to watch the Superbowl.

Frosty Shrub

One of my 2009 goals is to get outside more, at/before dawn if at all possible. I chose today to make progress on that goal. Not my warmest choice.

There was a frost on the ground, trees, everywhere. To say it was frigid would be an understatement. The snow was loud and crunchy underfoot, but preserved tracks wonderfully with fine detail. Tracks of a fox showed it excitedly following after a pine squirrel we’d seen stashing cones in the wood pile, but who was long gone high in a tree. I thought I saw some more rounded tracks, perhaps three legs not four, but later in full daylight I knew I was kidding myself.

I stood amongst the shrubs and trees, looking down the draw and waiting to see if movement caught my eye in the early morning light. I knew I was hoping for another encounter with Tri-Bob, but I wasn’t expecting to be that lucky. Any movement, any sign of life would do. I was practicing slowing myself down and being in the now, just enjoying the nature around. Hard to do when the wind blows icily through your clothing.

The Turkey chatted in the distance, no doubt grumbling that the day was starting out without warming up at all. I felt for them, and then I felt for me. What was I doing out in this freezing cold when all who could avoid it were avoiding it? The animals certainly were avoiding it if they could, no morning wave of birds, no scampering of critters. All was silent.

Time to go back home and get in the warm…

Frosty Aspen