Many Coots…flew the coop


Seems like this has been the year of many Coots and this day was no exception. While driving along in Wyoming we came across a lake that looked like it was filled with many Ducks however upon closer inspection it appeared to be filled to the brim with only Coots.

Well looks like I made a blunder and forgot the photo I had chosen for this post. I am away from my computer today so just imagine many coots on this nice fall pond. Not quite a majestic mountain lake at the base of a majestic mountain range but pretty nonetheless. Thanks to everyone who pointed out the missing photo. 

Black Necked Stilt

One of my favorite wading birds is the Black Necked Stilt. The Audubon guide says “Everything about the Black-necked Stilt seems delicate — from its incredibly thin stilt-legs to its slim wings and its needle-like bill — yet it manages to thrive on the sun-baked flats around shallow lakes, some of them in searing climates.”

They are truly amazing birds and have the second longest leg length to body ratio of wading birds only surpassed by Flamingos.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-necked_Stilt/lifehistory

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-necked-stilt

Peeking out.

A Wilson’s Snipe peeking out from the grass in which they were very well hidden.

We saw and waited for quite some time for this guy to move out from behind the grasses in which we could just barely see them moving around foraging.

This is the most we captured but sometimes just a peek is more than enough.

In the Aspens

A little flycatcher, a willow or perhaps a yellow or least,  the exact type we are unable to determine sits quietly in the Aspens on a cloudy fall day in SW Colorado. If you are skilled at ID’ing these guys feel free to let us know what exact species you think it is.

Green Tailed Towhee

The Green Tailed Towhee spends most of its time in dense low thickets, where it forages on the ground. Like other towhees, it scratches in the leaf-litter with both feet as it searches for food. It is somewhat secretive and difficult to see so we were thrilled to get a quick glimpse at this bird when it quickly flew from a berry thicket and landed on this tree for a few seconds.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-tailed_Towhee/id
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/green-tailed-towhee