It has been fun but worrisome to see him there this late into the season –as at this point I doubt he would even try to make it back south. Like many times he was swimming about with at least 50+ other Mallards. I took lots of photo of him with Mallards surrounding him but the neatest photo I got was mostly of him alone with sparkling water drops and ice crystals clinging to his bright plumage. You wouldn't think by this picture alone that the park was currently covered in snow and it was the first of January!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year 2013!
For some reason I really like walking around the park on the last day –and the first day of the year. I guess it's kind of how I now celebrate the New Year holiday. I like to reflect on all the things I saw and learned over the last year, and hopefully all the new things I will see and learn in the coming year. And getting up early and going for a walk in the woods is SO much better than being at home with a hangover don't you think? I saw and photographed a Chickadee fairly closely this Tuesday morning but the photos didn't turn out as well as I thought at the time. After that I spent a fair amount of time over at the "Duck Pond" as I spotted the Wood Duck there that myself and other park-goers have been seeing in December. 
It has been fun but worrisome to see him there this late into the season –as at this point I doubt he would even try to make it back south. Like many times he was swimming about with at least 50+ other Mallards. I took lots of photo of him with Mallards surrounding him but the neatest photo I got was mostly of him alone with sparkling water drops and ice crystals clinging to his bright plumage. You wouldn't think by this picture alone that the park was currently covered in snow and it was the first of January!
It has been fun but worrisome to see him there this late into the season –as at this point I doubt he would even try to make it back south. Like many times he was swimming about with at least 50+ other Mallards. I took lots of photo of him with Mallards surrounding him but the neatest photo I got was mostly of him alone with sparkling water drops and ice crystals clinging to his bright plumage. You wouldn't think by this picture alone that the park was currently covered in snow and it was the first of January!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Last Hike of 2012
Today was New Years Eve and for the first time in many years I had to work today. I was able to leave a bit early though and so I was able to hike around the park one last time in 2012. I didn't arrive until after 4pm so I didn't have much daylight. The first thing I spotted on the north side was a Northern Shrike who seemed to be having a hard time perching on a branch. 
When I looked closer with my binoculars I realized he had a mouse! This was the first time I've ever spotted one with a catch and it was exciting but he was so far away. I wanted a photo so badly that I hiked out into the snow and quickly scared him off. He took his catch to another tree out in the middle of the park to eat. I later found myself hiking out along the banks of Shingle Creek near the north side. Despite how loud the snow is to walk on, I could periodically hear little noises beneath me that sounded like chewing. I've been noticing runways in the snow everywhere lately -made by either Mice or Voles. On the banks of the creek there is tall grass most of the year and it must be heaven for the little ground critters here -especially in the winter. It probably keeps most of the snow just far enough off the ground to give them places to live. 
Here and there were little holes where grasses poked out and if I watched closely I could see what looked like a Vole pop his head out quickly. Again I thought I'd try and get a photo but they were just too quick for me. At one point I could hear rustling underneath me and as I watched the runways I could see a rodent running through it, appearing only briefly when the runway would break through the upper crust of the snow. It was pretty funny. Just before sunset I did spot another Great Horned Owl but he was facing away from me. From this angle the really look lumpy and awkward perched in a tree. I attempted to make a GHO call by muffling a series of 5 "whoo whoos" into my gloves. 
Apparently I must suck at it though as the Owl abruptly flew off when he heard my terrible impression. Well, the world did not end either as the Mayans had predicted so I look forward to many more hikes at the park next year. Happy New Year!
When I looked closer with my binoculars I realized he had a mouse! This was the first time I've ever spotted one with a catch and it was exciting but he was so far away. I wanted a photo so badly that I hiked out into the snow and quickly scared him off. He took his catch to another tree out in the middle of the park to eat. I later found myself hiking out along the banks of Shingle Creek near the north side. Despite how loud the snow is to walk on, I could periodically hear little noises beneath me that sounded like chewing. I've been noticing runways in the snow everywhere lately -made by either Mice or Voles. On the banks of the creek there is tall grass most of the year and it must be heaven for the little ground critters here -especially in the winter. It probably keeps most of the snow just far enough off the ground to give them places to live. 
Here and there were little holes where grasses poked out and if I watched closely I could see what looked like a Vole pop his head out quickly. Again I thought I'd try and get a photo but they were just too quick for me. At one point I could hear rustling underneath me and as I watched the runways I could see a rodent running through it, appearing only briefly when the runway would break through the upper crust of the snow. It was pretty funny. Just before sunset I did spot another Great Horned Owl but he was facing away from me. From this angle the really look lumpy and awkward perched in a tree. I attempted to make a GHO call by muffling a series of 5 "whoo whoos" into my gloves. 
Apparently I must suck at it though as the Owl abruptly flew off when he heard my terrible impression. Well, the world did not end either as the Mayans had predicted so I look forward to many more hikes at the park next year. Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Off-road Owl Encounter
It was another cold day this morning at the park with temps around 13 degrees when I arrived. At least the sun was out though today, and as long as the sun is out I'm willing to put up with the cold. Not too far into my walk I ran into a friend and we shared recent bird sighting stories -mostly on his behalf as my own outings have just been so uneventful as of late. I've been hearing reports of Long-eared Owls, Screech Owls and even a Northern Saw-whet Owl this winter (not all at Palmer Lake Park), but I've not been lucky enough to see any of those species yet with my own eyes. After our conversation I just went on with my walk feeling rather skunked. Other than the occasional Shrike sighting, I've not seen a whole lot of interest -especially for all the time I've been putting in. If you go by my blog posts alone you wouldn't think I've been out that much when in fact I've been out to the park probably twice as often. I have a backlog of posts from September thru December of this year that to be honest are hardly worth sharing. It was always my intention with this blog to make a post out of each and every single visit to the park -so I do still intend to go back and add them but I am way behind now. 
Today I decided to walk out onto the ice a ways just on the off chance that I might scare up a Coyote or something but even that proved unsuccessful. On the north side I somehow found myself off the path yet again hiking out near the edge of the woods. It was there that I spooked an Owl who flew out right in front of me and landed in the next tree ahead. I'd not even seen it there in the thick Buckthorn tree until it moved but then I finally had a great opportunity to see him in the daylight. It was a Barred Owl and they are always kind of fun to see. The snow was kind of hard and crunchy so I tried to be as quiet as possible as I rounded the patch of Buckthorn where he was originally perched. When I got around them he was still there and I was able to watch him for a while. It is funny when other birds flew overhead to see him look up and pan his head across the sky. I felt a little bit like a real wildlife photographer in that short moment as only I was getting to witness this sight, kneeling in the snow to steady my camera. It was just enough to rejuvenate me and make me anxious to visit the park again soon.
Today I decided to walk out onto the ice a ways just on the off chance that I might scare up a Coyote or something but even that proved unsuccessful. On the north side I somehow found myself off the path yet again hiking out near the edge of the woods. It was there that I spooked an Owl who flew out right in front of me and landed in the next tree ahead. I'd not even seen it there in the thick Buckthorn tree until it moved but then I finally had a great opportunity to see him in the daylight. It was a Barred Owl and they are always kind of fun to see. The snow was kind of hard and crunchy so I tried to be as quiet as possible as I rounded the patch of Buckthorn where he was originally perched. When I got around them he was still there and I was able to watch him for a while. It is funny when other birds flew overhead to see him look up and pan his head across the sky. I felt a little bit like a real wildlife photographer in that short moment as only I was getting to witness this sight, kneeling in the snow to steady my camera. It was just enough to rejuvenate me and make me anxious to visit the park again soon.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Duck Soup
My walk this Saturday was a quick one and there wasn't much to see with all the snow on the ground. The most interesting sight of the day was when I went around the Duck Pond on the southwest corner. There were hundreds of Mallards huddled together up against the banks on all sides of the pond. 
I've seen Ducks congregate here once or twice before, and usually before a snowstorm. Indeed we were expecting more snow today so I guess they somehow knew the forecast. For so many ducks in such a small space they didn't make a whole lot of noise. Only just quiet noises probably to keep from bumping into each other. I couldn't even get all of them in this first photo as there were many more near the left bank as well. 
I looked for quite a while for the Wood Duck, assuming he was in there somewhere but I was never able to locate him. With the pending winter weather coming I was hoping he would be smart enough to take refuge with the other mallards. Later on in my walk it did indeed start snowing like crazy. The only other bird I was able to photograph today was a European Starling.
I've seen Ducks congregate here once or twice before, and usually before a snowstorm. Indeed we were expecting more snow today so I guess they somehow knew the forecast. For so many ducks in such a small space they didn't make a whole lot of noise. Only just quiet noises probably to keep from bumping into each other. I couldn't even get all of them in this first photo as there were many more near the left bank as well. 
I looked for quite a while for the Wood Duck, assuming he was in there somewhere but I was never able to locate him. With the pending winter weather coming I was hoping he would be smart enough to take refuge with the other mallards. Later on in my walk it did indeed start snowing like crazy. The only other bird I was able to photograph today was a European Starling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
