Walking along the cattails of a marsh and listening to a symphony of Marsh Wrens singing their song out of sight yet O’so close is a wonderful thing. And it is always a treat when a Wren pops up and sings that song in plain sight for a minute or two.
We heard this female Sparrow chirping away and singing non stop from the other side of the lake. When we got nearer to her she went silent but did allow a few quick photos before darting back into the thicker brush along the lakeshore.
One of your favorite birds to hear is the Grey Catbird. Their song can go one and on and it is always fun to just sit for a bit and listen to them sing.
One of our favorite forest singers the Warbling Vireo enjoying a bit of quiet time while on the nest. By now the eggs have hatched and young have left the nest. The next generation is on its way.
With the rain begining to come down softly a White Crowned Sparrow flew up and landed on a fence post next to us shook off the rain and then got back on his way.
A little reminder well received.
We have both the Eastern and Western Kingbirds residing in our region and although very different in appearance we typically see both species perched on fence posts or barbed wire foraging on insects spotted from their perches. Although we have encountered both on the same day we have not yet seen them in close proximity.
So West…Meet East
And East…. meet West.
We see this Black Crowned Night Heron at the same spot along the South Platte river almost every evening in the summer patiently working the water for a meal.
A Red Tailed Hawk sits patiently on a rainy summer afternoon waiting for the next opportunity.
On the fence line near box 62A a Female Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) was taking a break from tending to her nest. Looks like she has been banded for study. Bluebirds populations while recovering are still threatened by loss of habitat and competition from introduced species such as the House Sparrow and European Starling both of which compete for nest boxes as well as natural nesting sites.
It wouldn’t seem like summer without the sounds of the Chipping Sparrows echoing through the trees in our area. A beautiful little sparrow with their rufous crown. We see the Chipping Sparrow foraging on branches, jumping around on the ground and hopping about in the both pine and deciduous tress each summer.
More often than not a hike through the forest in July is accompanied by their song echoing through the woods. A song we thoroughly enjoy.
So here’s to the Chipping Sparrow a widespread, modest and wonderful summer companion.
nature has no boss 
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